DC Councilman Marion Barry apologizes for remark disparaging Asian businesses

WASHINGTON — Just after yet another decisive electoral victory, D.C. Councilman Marion Barry is once again embroiled in controversy, this time for remarks disparaging Asian-owned businesses in his poor, majority-black ward.

At his primary election victory party on Tuesday, Barry said: "We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops. ... They ought to go. I'm going to say that right now. But we need African-American businesspeople to be able to take their places, too." His comments were first reported by WRC-TV. Barry apologized on Thursday for the comments.

"I want to express my deep apology for offending some members of the Asian community and the D.C. community," Barry said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I have a solid record of relationships with the Asian community."

The former mayor won the Democratic primary for his Ward 8 council seat with 73 percent of the vote, all but assuring him of another four-year term.

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