'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Inna Vernikov, a 37-year-old NYC Councilwoman and Jewish Ukrainian native, was arrested Friday, October 13, after she was spotted toting a firearm at a pro-Palestinian rally on Thursday.
According to the New York Post, citing a police source, Vernikov, a Republican lawyer who opposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the past, was caught on camera “with the butt-end of a firearm protruding from the front portion of her pants” while observing the pro-Palestine protests convened on the campus of CUNY’s Brooklyn College Thursday afternoon.
The 33-year-old who turned herself in on Friday while surrendering her gun and her firearm permit was given a desk appearance ticket for criminal possession of a firearm, as openly carrying a weapon is not allowed in New York City. The arrest comes a month after Vernikov declared that she was a licenced gun owner on Instagram.
NYC Councilwoman Inna Vernikov's arrest prompts call for dismissal
In the wake of the incident, “ExpelVernikov '' was trending on X, formerly known as Twitter, as social media users reposted the photos of Vernikov with her weapon. In a post, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice posted an image of NYC Councilwoman Inna Vernikov with a gun and blamed her for intimidating students at a pro-Palestine rally.
“New York City Council Member Inna Vernikov brought a GUN to a rally to intimidate students. #ExpelVernikov.”
In response, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams slammed Vernikov’s conduct at a rally, adding the Council was investigating the ” impact” of Vernikov’s actions as a public official expected to uphold the law.
“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.” She added, “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.”
Meanwhile, Vernikov, who is yet to respond to her arrest, shared a video of herself speaking outside the protest held on the campus of CUNY’s Brooklyn College on X Thursday afternoon. She said:
“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 r*ped, massacred and beheaded, you’re a HAMAS supporter & apologist who would like to bring the terror here to rid the world of the Jewish people.”
What we know about Inna Vernikov
A staunch supporter of Israel, Inna Vernikov, a Ukrainian-born American lawyer and politician, was the founder of an immigration and matrimonial law practice before she was elected to represent the 48th District in 2021. She ran on promises to restore New York Police Department funding and back merit-based education and school choice.
Vernikov, who was raised in Chernovitz under Soviet rule and came to New York in 1996 when she was 12 years old, represents southern Brooklyn neighborhoods, which is home to the largest numbers of Jewish Ukrainian immigrants.
