Kennedy, Markey Face Off On Debate Stage

BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Sen. Ed Markey and Congressman Joe Kennedy took to the debate stage Tuesday night.

Rep. Kennedy is vying for Markey’s senate seat. Both candidates highlighted their opponent’s record on criminal justice during the debate televised on WBZ-TV.

Kennedy addressed Markey's response to the death of DJ Henry. He was the man, from Easton, that was killed in 2010 by police in New York.

“A mom and dad came to you to ask for justice for their murdered son. And when they came to you to ask for help, you did nothing. The only thing you did months later was sign onto a letter that my office put together,” Kennedy said.

Sen. Markey responded saying “it is just not true what Congressman Kennedy is saying.”

“I have a letter here with his signature next to mine. Not one letter, two letters. Right next to each other, our names, asking [former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder] of the Justice Department to open an investigation,” Markey said.

Both candidates also devoted time to try to convince voters they are the more progressive choice.

Sen. Markey reiterated that he has fought for Medicare for All and helped co-write the Green New Deal to address climate change.

“I built a movement that’s going to change our country and our planet. Next year, with wind and solar, all electric vehicles, plug-in batteries with an energy efficiency strategy that is going to create millions of jobs in our country and do so with justice,” Markey said.

“Senator, if that’s the movement that we’re building than why not go out and fight for it. Why not go out there and actually build it,” Kennedy said in response.

After going back and forth on a number of topics, things got tense after the incumbent accused his challenger’s father of funding negative attack ads.

“The congressman is running a relentlessly negative campaign which I do not think is good for Massachusetts,” Markey said.

“Senator, your campaign supporters have put out tweets and have bullied my supporters; have put out tweets saying that Lee Harvey got the wrong Kennedy. That ‘Where is Lee Harvey Oswald?’ And not a word coming from you,” Kennedy said.

Markey immediately condemned those comments, saying no one affiliated with his campaign would say anything like that.

WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas (@JamesRojasWBZ) reports

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(Photo: Getty Images)


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