Ward 8 Councilman Marion Barry was the target of a growing furor on Thursday after the former mayor made insensitive comments about Asian business owners in the District.
“We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops,” Barry said in remarks on Tuesday night first reported by WRC-TV. “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.”
Barry was not immediately available for comment on Thursday.
Susan Au Allen, the president of the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, said Barry’s comments concerned her.
“It’s regrettably inappropriate. I’m hoping he misspoke,” Allen said in an interview with The Washington Examiner. “We should be keeping our focus on how to make life better for everybody.”
Allen, who was a member of the city’s Minority Business Opportunity Commission while Barry was mayor, said Asians had sensed opportunity in Ward 8 when they chose to open their businesses.
“The Asian businesses are there because they see a place where there’s a need. They went in there to meet the demand,” Allen said. “They’re there to serve the needs of the residents.”
Roger Campos, the president and CEO of the Washington-based Minority Business Roundtable, said Barry’s comments were disrespectful to minorities beyond the city’s Asian-American community.
“That is totally insensitive. It’s kind of interesting because Asians and Hispanics are fueling the economy in business growth, and we ought to be inclusive of all minority groups, not just one,” Campos said. “He’s got one insensitive focus, and that’s on African-Americans solely and no other groups.”
Barry’s comments also drew the ire of at least one colleague on the D.C. Council.
“My colleague’s remarks about Asian businesses last night were deplorable,” Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells said in a Wednesday post on Twitter. “We are a great city, and we are a diverse city.”
Barry: 'We
“We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops,” Barry said in remarks on Tuesday night first reported by WRC-TV. “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.”
Barry was not immediately available for comment on Thursday.
Susan Au Allen, the president of the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, said Barry’s comments concerned her.
“It’s regrettably inappropriate. I’m hoping he misspoke,” Allen said in an interview with The Washington Examiner. “We should be keeping our focus on how to make life better for everybody.”
Allen, who was a member of the city’s Minority Business Opportunity Commission while Barry was mayor, said Asians had sensed opportunity in Ward 8 when they chose to open their businesses.
“The Asian businesses are there because they see a place where there’s a need. They went in there to meet the demand,” Allen said. “They’re there to serve the needs of the residents.”
Roger Campos, the president and CEO of the Washington-based Minority Business Roundtable, said Barry’s comments were disrespectful to minorities beyond the city’s Asian-American community.
“That is totally insensitive. It’s kind of interesting because Asians and Hispanics are fueling the economy in business growth, and we ought to be inclusive of all minority groups, not just one,” Campos said. “He’s got one insensitive focus, and that’s on African-Americans solely and no other groups.”
Barry’s comments also drew the ire of at least one colleague on the D.C. Council.
“My colleague’s remarks about Asian businesses last night were deplorable,” Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells said in a Wednesday post on Twitter. “We are a great city, and we are a diverse city.”
Barry: 'We