Offensive' Marion Barry comments raise D.C. lawmaker's ire

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) has publicly announced her displeasure with recent "offensive" comments made by former Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Barry.

Barry has apologized for the derogatory remarks about local Asian business owners, which were made Tuesday night as he celebrated his Democratic primary victory in D.C.'s Ward 8.

“We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops,” he said at the time. “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.”

Norton’s office on Thursday issued a statement condemning Barry’s remarks, saying she called him after hearing about the comments.

“Norton told Barry that she was stunned by the offensive nature of the comments,” according to a statement from her office. “She reminded Barry of how long she had known him and the values they first shared when they were students together in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the South fighting for racial justice.”

After a flood of criticism following his remarks, Barry apologized via his Twitter account.

“I admit, I could and should have said it differently,” Barry wrote on Thursday. “But the facts are still very present in our daily lives here.”

Barry told the Washington Post his apology was sincere: "It is as solid as Marion Barry can make it, and believe it, because I have a history of not doing anything to purposely disparage any group of people."

This is far from the first time the former mayor has faced controversy. Barry previously served six months in jail on drug charges, and pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of failing to pay federal and local taxes in 2005.

Barry has held the Ward 8 city council seat since 2005.