N.Y.C Lawmaker Arrested For Bringing Weapon To Pro-Palestine Rally

Pro-Palestinian Activists Gather For A Day Of Action
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 13: Pro-Palestinian activists participate in a rally on October 13, 2023 in New York City. Across the country and around the world, people are holding rallies and vigils for both Palestinians and Israelis following the surprise attack by Hamas on October 7. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) — Pro-Palestinian activists participate in a rally on October 13, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)

OAN’s Abril Elfi
5:22 PM – Friday, October 13, 2023

A New York City Councilwoman was arrested after she was seen on social media holding a weapon at a pro-Palestinian event at.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) announced the arrest of 39-year-old Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R-N.Y.) after she was spotted with a handgun coming out from her pants at a pro-Palestinian rally.

Reportedly, the NYPD told Vernikov that she was in breach of the law after she left the event, and she later surrendered herself into the 70^th Precinct escorted by her lawyer at 2:50 a.m.

The councilwoman was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a handgun, and she was required to surrender both her lawfully issued firearm and her permit.

“The Councilwoman was at the location observing a pro-Palestine protest which was taking place, and in the course of doing so, the Councilwoman was observed with the butt-end of a firearm (handgun) protruding from the front portion of her pants,” the NYPD said. “This image was disseminated on social media, per photos taken at the scene by various individuals.”

Pictures and videos of the councilwoman emerged on social media, showing Vernikov observing the gathering while carrying a weapon in her belt.

#BREAKING Councilwoman Inna Vernikov was arrested this morning, after appearing with hand gun at Pro-Palestine protest outside of CUNY Brooklyn College on Thursday, according to dailynews.

Video by @yyeeaahhhboiii2 Desk@freedomnews.tv to license pic.twitter.com/YR37Tw1WWk
— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) October 13, 2023

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams released a statement calling Vernikov’s actions “unacceptable and unlawful” stating that the council is “investigating the impact of Council Member Vernikov’s actions and the disposition within the legal process on her participation in the body.”

Vernikov posted a video on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, and said that those standing in the rally are “nothing short of a terrorist without the bombs.”

“This is what they are doing, protesting, supporting Hamas, asking to globalize the intifada, to bring the terror that the people of Israel are experiencing now, to bring it here to New York City,” Vernikov added.

At @BrooklynCollege rally this afternoon with @CMFarahLouis & @KalmanYeger. If you’re standing w/ the protestors, yelling “GLOBALIZE THE INTIFADA” & “FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA, PALESTINE WILL BE FREE” while innocent women and babies are being raped, massacred and beheaded, you’re… pic.twitter.com/7ESRAGrjtb
— Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (@InnaVernikov) October 12, 2023

According to New York state law, “a person is guilty of criminal possession of a firearm, rifle or shotgun in a sensitive location when such person possesses a firearm, rifle or shotgun in or upon a sensitive location, and such person knows or reasonably should know such location is a sensitive location.”

After the news of the arrest, Governor Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) posted on X stating that “gun laws apply to everyone.”