PHOTO STORY: Ayanna Pressley’s Insurgent Campaign Gears Up for Primaries
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“Door Knocking Scripts” for canvassers are laid out on a table in Titus Sparrow Park for one of Ayanna Pressley’s canvass kick offs in Boston’s South End. After listening to Pressley speak, the volunteer canvassers split up and left the park, using the scripts provided to attempt to garner votes from registered democrats in the area. The script includes an explanation for the importance of voting in this election, survey questions to gage the potential voters’ opinions on Pressley, a list of Pressley’s policies and an absentee ballot application. PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Kristen Halbert, a volunteer for Pressley’s campaign, heads the canvass table and speaks to Michelle Wu, Boston City Councilor At-Large and supporter of Pressley, for whom she works as a community liaison. They poke fun at the new campaign literature, which is significantly larger than the pamphlets that were previously distributed. It advertises a photo of a “1” bus, which was featured in Pressley’s video advertisement as an example of the income disparity within the 7th congressional district that can be observed while taking the bus from Harvard Square to Dudley Square. PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
A volunteer places an “Ayanna Pressley” pin on his shirt to prepare to canvass the South Boston neighborhood. PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Pressley hugs volunteer Nina Shieldes at the canvass kick-off. Shieldes has been a campaign volunteer for two months and plans to work on Election Day on Tuesday, Sept. 4. PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
City Councilor At-Large Michelle Wu speaks to the small group of volunteers at the family-friendly canvass kick off in Titus Sparrow Park. Wu said that the district needs a congresswoman “who is out in the community, knowing all of our stories and bringing a sense of urgency to Washington.” PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
City Councilor Kim Janey of District 7 watches Pressley speak. Earlier, Janey had emphasized the importance of canvassing, and said, “This is where [change] really happens.” Following Pressley’s speech, Janey canvassed the neighborhood with other volunteers. PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
The volunteers react to Pressley’s short speech, which touched on Capuano’s lead, Pressley’s endorsement from 250 black prison inmates and the disparity in life expectancy between different neighborhoods in Boston. PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Pressley says that she intends to change the way that Washington works as a congresswoman. PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Green asks the crowd of volunteers and interested listeners if any of them had ever worked in retail. PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Pressley listens to Andre Green, president of the Somerville School Committee, speak about racial discrimination within politics in Greater Boston in Davis Square’s Diesel Cafe. PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Pressley begins her speech at Davis Square’s Diesel Cafe in late August, just weeks before her historic victory on Sept. 6. CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Pressley speaks to the crowd of volunteers and other supporters about the urgency in addressing issues of disparity within a diverse Boston in addition to resisting President Donald Trump’s policies. PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Laura Beretsky (right), a new Pressley supporter who plans to begin canvassing, believes that incumbent Capuano is too “comfortable” and that the district would benefit from a more progressive and active leader. PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Patrons of Diesel Cafe in Somerville observe Pressley’s speech. Suzanne O’Toole (center) doesn’t live in the 7th district, but hopes that Pressley wins. Aaron Berkowitz, another patron, believed that Pressley didn’t give substantial details about what she intends to do as a congresswoman. PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Sam Lawton and Nikki Spencer cheer during Ayanna’s speech. Spencer had been volunteering for several months and Lawton went canvassing for the first time following the kick off. PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Ayanna finishes her speech, detailing the big and small endorsements and donations she has received from teenagers, homeless people and labor unions “because it’s the first time they’ve felt seen.” PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF
Casey Accardi, canvas captain, and Missy Matteis canvas on Newbury Street in Somerville after assigning the other volunteers to their “turfs” following the Diesel Cafe kick-off. Accardi had knocked on 130 doors since she started canvassing in March. The canvassers have lists of registered voters’ names and addresses, and they leave campaign literature in the doors if nobody answers. Accardi says that most people are willing to hear her talk about Pressley’s policies or take the literature, but some are not aware of the coming election and become enthusiastic to have somebody to vote for. PHOTO BY CHLOE GRINBERG/ DAILY FREE PRESS STAFF