Washington D.C. Councilman Marion Barry is in hot water again — this time for insulting Asian-owned businesses in his poor, majority-black district.
The 76-year-old Democrat declared during his primary election victory rally on Tuesday, "We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops."
He added, "They ought to go. I'm going to say that right now. But we need African-American businesspeople to take their places, too."
Critics, including Asian organizations, Mayor Vincent Gray and Council Chairman Kwame Brown, ripped Barry's remarks.
"I am deeply disappointed by Councilmember Barry's comment," Gray said in a statement. "There is no room in this wonderfully diverse city for comments that disparage anyone on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, disability or sexual orientation."
