Massachusetts

Capuano, Pressley Spar in Final Debate Ahead of Primary

Things got heated between Michael Capuano and Ayanna Pressley as they met for their final debate in the primary race for Massachusetts' 7th Congressional contest Wednesday evening.

Pressley, a Boston city councilor, used the showdown on WGBH's "Greater Boston" for a chance to slam Democratic 10-term incumbent Capuano on several issues, including President Donald Trump's proposed border wall and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's national anthem protest.

Capuano countered Pressley when she said he had voted to fund "Trump's hate wall," saying many Democrats voted for the bill because there were some concessions for the party.

"It would have saved a lot of hassle for people in temporary protective status, DREAMers and the mothers and children being separated at the border," he said.

On the subject of the Kaepernick protest, which was started to highlight police brutality, Capuano said he supported the right of National Football League players' right to protest, but added he thought kneeling during the national anthem "divided America." During a town hall discussion in Boston's Allston-Brighton neighborhood last October, Capuano said Kaepernick "was wrong in the way he raised the issue."

Pressley disagreed during Wednesday's debate, which was moderated by Jim Braude, saying it was the right thing to do because "it is necessary that we are disruptive right now and making people feel uncomfortable."

Democratic voters head to the polls for the primary on Sept. 4.

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