During the time DC’s former “Mayor for life” was still alive and kicking, Marion Barry had managed to push through scandal after scandal. One such incident, ever so slight and nearly invisible, did manage to tip off the consciousness of a few liberals during the first several weeks of his final term in office, when Barry commented on what the city should do with the sudden influx of Chinese immigrants coming into Washington DC:
“We’ve got to do something about these Asians coming in, opening up businesses, those dirty shops. They ought to go, I’ll just say that right now, you know.”
“Somebody has to stop them from tearing up China Town!”
