Marion Barry honored with bronze statue on Pennsylvania Avenue

People snap up photos of the moment the statue is unveiled on Saturday, March 3, 2018. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)

WASHINGTON — He was a controversial leader in D.C. known as the District’s “mayor for life,” and four years after his death he’ll be recognized for years to come outside of the Mayor’s office in D.C.

Marion Barry was memorialized Saturday morning with an 8-foot statue outside of the Wilson Building, which houses the mayor’s office and the D.C. Council on Pennsylvania Avenue in Northwest D.C.

Barry was mayor of D.C. for four terms. He spent nearly 16 years as a city council member, he was a civil rights activist and a champion to the downtrodden, but he was also very controversial.

Lots of people attended Saturday's unveiling, despite Barry's controveries while in office, many people said they admired how he consistently fought for the people of D.C. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Lots of people attended Saturday’s unveiling, despite Barry’s controversies while in office, many people said they admired how he consistently fought for the people of D.C. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
"They love him because he actually did things for the little person," said Ron Baker who is part of the Marion Barry Legacy Committee about why so many people flocked to Saturday's unveiling. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
“They love him because he actually did things for the little person,” said Ron Baker who is part of the Marion Barry Legacy Committee. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Barry was elected mayor of D.C. in 1978 and served until 1991 when he decided not to run for re-election following his 1990 arrest and subsequent conviction on drug charges. He was elected to a fourth term as mayor in 1994. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Barry was elected mayor of D.C. in 1978 and served until 1991 when he decided not to run for re-election following his 1990 arrest and subsequent conviction on drug charges. He was elected to a fourth term as mayor in 1994. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
After Barry stepped down from the mayor's office for good in 1998, he was elected the D.C. Council for Ward 8 in 2004 and served until his death in 2014. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
After Barry stepped down from the mayor’s office for good in 1998, he was elected to the D.C. Council for Ward 8 in 2004 and served until his death in 2014. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
The eight-foot bronze statue of Barry was cast to look like he was waving. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
The 8-foot bronze statue of Barry was cast to look like he was waving. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
People snap up photos of the moment the statue is unveiled on Saturday, March 3, 2018. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
People snap up photos of the moment the statue is unveiled on Saturday, March 3, 2018. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Marion Barry's widow, Cora Masters Barry, spoke to the crowd on Saturday and said "Marion fought for the least, the last and the left behind. For those skeptics who will inevitably question why Marion is getting a statue, it is because of his selfless service. It is because Marion served the people until the day he died. Marion loved his people. He helped everyone." (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Marion Barry’s widow, Cora Masters Barry, spoke to the crowd on Saturday. “Marion fought for the least, the last and the left behind. For those skeptics who will inevitably question why Marion is getting a statue, it is because of his selfless service. It is because Marion served the people until the day he died. Marion loved his people. He helped everyone.” (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Ron and Don Baker, twin brother who are both photographers, were fans of Barry. Don took the final official portrait of Barry right before he died in 2014. "Marion Barry was a champion of the people," Ron said. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Don (left) and Ron Baker (right), twin brother who are both photographers, were fans of Barry. Don took the final official portrait of Barry right before he died in 2014. “Marion Barry was a champion of the people,” Ron said. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
A t-shirt commemorating the statue unveiling along Pennysvlania Avenue. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
A T-shirt commemorating the statue unveiling along Pennsylvania Avenue. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
A suppoert of Marion Barry celebrates the unveiling of the former Mayor's statue on Saturday, March 3, 2018. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
A supporter of Marion Barry celebrates the unveiling of the former mayor’s statue on Saturday, March 3, 2018. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
(1/10)
Lots of people attended Saturday's unveiling, despite Barry's controveries while in office, many people said they admired how he consistently fought for the people of D.C. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
"They love him because he actually did things for the little person," said Ron Baker who is part of the Marion Barry Legacy Committee about why so many people flocked to Saturday's unveiling. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Barry was elected mayor of D.C. in 1978 and served until 1991 when he decided not to run for re-election following his 1990 arrest and subsequent conviction on drug charges. He was elected to a fourth term as mayor in 1994. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
After Barry stepped down from the mayor's office for good in 1998, he was elected the D.C. Council for Ward 8 in 2004 and served until his death in 2014. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
The eight-foot bronze statue of Barry was cast to look like he was waving. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
People snap up photos of the moment the statue is unveiled on Saturday, March 3, 2018. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Marion Barry's widow, Cora Masters Barry, spoke to the crowd on Saturday and said "Marion fought for the least, the last and the left behind. For those skeptics who will inevitably question why Marion is getting a statue, it is because of his selfless service. It is because Marion served the people until the day he died. Marion loved his people. He helped everyone." (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
Ron and Don Baker, twin brother who are both photographers, were fans of Barry. Don took the final official portrait of Barry right before he died in 2014. "Marion Barry was a champion of the people," Ron said. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
A t-shirt commemorating the statue unveiling along Pennysvlania Avenue. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)
A suppoert of Marion Barry celebrates the unveiling of the former Mayor's statue on Saturday, March 3, 2018. (WTOP/Kathy Stewart)

The ceremony shut down Pennsylvania Avenue on Saturday as lots of people braved the elements to honor the D.C. icon.

“It’s an honor to be a part of this,” said Margaret Stevenson, who got her first summer job through Barry’s summer youth employment program. “This is a wonderful tribute to Marion Barry.”

Stevenson said she thinks the statute is a great way to honor a man who has done so much for D.C.

“I think it’s absolutely wonderful to know that every time you come past Pennsylvania Avenue, he is going to be waving at you,” she said.

The statue depicts Barry with his hand in the air, which does look like he is waving.

“All around this city, people will tell you, ‘I got my first job with Marion Barry,'” said Councilmember Jack Evans.

Evans, who called Barry a friend, said he created opportunities for people in the District that didn’t exist before. Evans said one of Barry’s biggest legacies will be that he helped create the African-American middle class in the city and the region. Evans said, Barry was a legendary figure in the District.

Current D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said that Barry taught people to never give up hope

“We are preserving a tremendous part of D.C. history as we honor our ‘mayor for life,'” she said.

That sentiment was echoed by D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson who said people saw Barry as a symbol of hope for 50 years.

“He gave voice to the lost, the last and the least,” Mendelson said. “This is an exciting day. It’s exciting because we’re placing a statute to a District of Columbia hero on Pennsylvania. Through thick and thin, the things Mr. Barry did were for other people and not himself.”

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton acknowledged that opinions about Barry will vary but said that no one can doubt “the deep and loving affection of many Washingtonians for Marion.”

“Marion Barry was a champion of the people,” said Ron Baker, who is part of the Marion Barry Legacy Committee.

Baker said he has known Barry since 1976, when he was running for his second term on the D.C. Council.

“That’s why you see so many people out today,” Baker said. “They actually love him because he did things for the little person.”

Ron’s twin brother, Don Baker, said he did a final portrait of Barry several years before Barry’s death in November 2014.

“Everyone loves that portrait of him,” he said. “He did for a city what most mayors should for a city and that’s look out for people.”

Barry’s widow, Cora Masters Barry, also spoke to the crowd and said that despite Barry’s troubles, he was always about serving the people.

“As I look out over the crowd and see all these wonderful people here, it makes my heart sing,” she said. “Marion fought for the least, the last and the left behind. For those skeptics who will inevitably question why Marion is getting a statue, it is because of his selfless service. It is because Marion served the people until the day he died. Marion loved his people. He helped everyone.”

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up