Brooklyn City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov is facing criminal charges after she was spotted with a firearm at a pro-Palestine rally held outside Brooklyn College on Thursday, the NYPD said.
Vernikov, whose district includes Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay, was seen with the end of a handgun “protruding from the front portion of her pants” during the rally on Bedford Avenue Thursday afternoon, police said.
The Republican councilmember posted a video of herself at the rally on her social media platforms, where she criticized the demonstrators, calling them supporters of Hamas.
“If you are here today, standing with these people, you're nothing short of a terrorist without the bombs,” she said in the video.
The NYPD said images of the councilwoman with the firearm had circulated on social media, "per photos taken at the scene by various individuals."
After Vernikov left the protest, police contacted her about the images, and she turned herself in at the 70th Precinct in Kensington, the NYPD said.
She was arrested and given a desk appearance ticket on a criminal possession of a firearm charge, police said. The lawmaker also surrendered her firearm and her permit license for the gun, according to police.
“At no point in time was anyone menaced or injured as a result of her possessing the firearm at the earlier protest,” the NYPD said.
Criminal possession of a firearm at a “sensitive location,” including a rally, demonstration or school ground, is a class E felony under state law. The NYPD said the charges against Vernikov stem from a violation of that law.
Gov. Kathy Hochul responded to news of Vernikov’s arrest on X, formerly known as Twitter, Friday morning.
“New York’s gun safety laws apply to everyone,” Hochul wrote.
In a statement released Friday afternoon, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said the council was “investigating the impact of Council Member Vernikov’s actions and the disposition within the legal process on her participation in the body.”
Vernikov currently serves on the City Council’s Committee on Standards and Ethics.
“It is unacceptable and unlawful for a civilian to ever bring a firearm to a rally or protest, and especially important for elected officials to model a respect for the law that is expected of all New Yorkers,” Adams said. “I am referring this matter to the Standards and Ethics Committee, which may require the recusal of committee members.”
“It is the responsibility of the NYPD and the Brooklyn District Attorney to enforce the law in what is a criminal matter, and the Council will respect that process,” she added.
The City Council Progressive Caucus released its own statement Friday calling on the Committee on Standards and Ethics to launch “an immediate investigation for expulsion" of Vernikov.
“Council Member Vernikov’s attempts to intimidate peaceful demonstrators, many of whom are students, is a despicable and violent act. Her willingness to endanger the lives of students cannot go unnoticed and without consequences” the Progressive Caucus wrote. “Openly carrying a weapon to a public university and a protest is not only despicable, it is illegal.”
NY1 has reached out to Vernikov’s office for comment.