Jewish NYC Councilwoman Inna Vernikov Arrested For Carrying Gun At Pro-Palestinian Rally

Councilwoman ARRESTED - Hauled Away!

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The arrest of Republican Brooklyn Councilwoman Inna Vernikov on Friday follows calls for her resignation following her presence with a pistol at a pro-Palestinian rally the previous day.

Protesters gathered on the campus of CUNYโ€™s Brooklyn College on Thursday afternoon, and the councilwoman, who is Jewish and has spoken out against pro-Palestinian sympathizers, was there.

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Between midday and 2:45 p.m., Vernikov, 39, was spotted watching the demonstration โ€œwith the butt-end of a firearm protruding from the front portion of her pants.โ€ police officials said on Thursday.

Just before 3 a.m. on Friday, she and her attorney reported to the 70th Precinct.

She turned over her firearm and permit, and instead of being processed, she was given a desk appearance ticket.

โ€œAt no point in time was anyone menaced or injured as a result of her possessing the firearm at the earlier protest,โ€ police sources said.

Even if Vernikov has a concealed carry permit, it is still against the law in New York for her to bring a gun to a rally or on school property.

Police sources said that the councilwoman was jailed on Friday evening for a Class E felony, which carries a sentence of two to five years in prison.

โ€œIt 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,โ€ New York City Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams said Friday.

โ€œIt 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. The Council is investigating the impact of Council Member Vernikovโ€™s actions and the disposition within the legal process on her participation in the body.โ€

The councilwoman posted a video of herself on X Thursday afternoon, addressing at the scene of the heated demonstration.

โ€œIf youโ€™re standing w/ the protestors, yelling โ€˜GLOBALIZE THE INTIFADAโ€™ & โ€˜FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA, PALESTINE WILL BE FREEโ€™ while innocent women and babies are being raped, massacred and beheaded, youโ€™re a HAMAS supporter & apologist who would like to bring the terror here to rid the world of the Jewish people,โ€ she wrote alongside the clip.

The councilwomanโ€™s pistol was not apparent in her own video, but photographs and footage of her with the weapon in plain view rapidly went viral online.

โ€œAt todayโ€™s rally on Brooklyn College campus led by the students in their SJP chapter, Inna Vernikov showed up showcasing a gun to Palestinian students and their allies,โ€ CUNY4Palestine tweeted alongside one such image.

โ€œThese are the tactics of force and intimidation used by zionist groups to silence any support for Palestine.โ€

โ€œShe should lose her job and the gun license taken away from her,โ€ one attendee commented.

โ€œThis is a domestic terrorist,โ€ a third chimed in.

A few social media users also reposted the photos of Vernikov with her weapon in full view alongside the hashtag โ€œExpelVernikov.โ€