Mayor Marion Barry on Washington D.C. Crime Rates

byKristi Kirk Trent

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Maybe he was soft on crime. Maybe he mangled the message. Either way, it takes a special kind of optimism to market a city as low-crime because you're not counting the 434 murders.

File this one under: Things You Should Never Say Into a Microphone. Only Marion Barry could try to downplay Washington, D.C.’s crime problem and end up delivering one of the most spectacularly boneheaded political lines in history. His attempt to reassure the public not only did the opposite, but also cemented his place in every political blooper reel for eternity.

The Quote :

"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country." --Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington D.C.

Context:

Barry dropped this gem in March 1989, while trying to argue that Washington’s reputation for crime was unfair. Unfortunately, “outside of the killings” isn’t the kind of qualifier that makes people feel safe. USA Today quoted Barry, and instantly the line became shorthand for the mayor’s unique ability to mangle the message. In other words: Barry wasn’t joking—he actually said this with a straight face.

Source: USA Today, March 24, 1989

Comparing Washington, D.C. Murder Rates:

The Number of Murders in Washington D.C.

Who Said It:

A civil-rights activist turned political powerhouse, Marion Barry (1936–2014) served four terms as Mayor of Washingon, D.C. Known as “Mayor for Life” by both fans and critics, Barry was as famous for his charisma and ability to connect with marginalized communities as he was for his scandals, gaffes, and eventual drug conviction. Despite it all, D.C. voters kept bringing him back—proving once again that politics is more about personality than perfection.

Source: Wikipedia

See the Video:

Source: CSPAN

Recommended Reading:

New York Times Bestseller

Mayor for Life: The Incredible Story of Marion Barry Jr.

by Marion Barry Jr.

"A shocking and courageous life story."

"...provocative, captivating"

In this candid autobiography, Mayor for Life: The Incredible Story of Marion Barry, Jr., Marion Barry reflects on his journey from the segregated South to becoming one of the most influential—and controversial—political figures in Washington, D.C. He recounts his early activism in the civil rights movement, his four terms as mayor, and the highs and lows of his personal life, including his well-publicized struggles. The book offers insight into Barry’s enduring popularity among many D.C. residents, particularly within the Black community, while also acknowledging the scandals that defined his career. Written in Barry’s own voice, it provides an unfiltered look at a complex man whose story is inseparable from the city he led.

If you’ve ever wondered how Barry could survive a near-fatal gunshot wound to the chest, cancer, a federal drug bust, a prison sentence, and still get re-elected as mayor of the nation’s capital… this book has your answers.