A Republican councilwoman from Brooklyn was arrested on Friday and charged with criminal possession of a firearm after images posted on social media showed her carrying a gun in her waistband at a pro-Palestinian rally at Brooklyn College the previous day.
The councilwoman, Inna Vernikov, who represents southern Brooklyn neighborhoods including Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay, turned herself in at the 70th Precinct with her lawyer shortly before 3 a.m., according to a police spokeswoman.
Ms. Vernikov, 39, who has a license to carry a gun, surrendered her weapon — a Smith & Wesson 9-millimeter pistol — and her permit, police officials said. She was “observing a pro-Palestine protest” when she was seen with the butt end of a firearm “protruding from the front portion of her pants,” the police spokeswoman said.
New York issues permits to carry concealed firearms only; openly carrying a firearm is not allowed. A state law passed last year prohibits people from carrying guns in “sensitive locations,” a category that includes protests and rallies.
No one was “menaced or injured” as a result of Ms. Vernikov’s possession of the gun at the protest, the police said.
Ms. Vernikov, who expressed opposition to the Brooklyn College rally before it was held, did not immediately respond to a call and text message seeking comment. Joseph Borelli, the City Council’s Republican minority leader, said Ms. Vernikov had been issued a desk appearance ticket requiring her to appear in court at a later date.
“There’s a responsibility that comes with owning a firearm, and she’ll have to address these charges with the court,” Mr. Borelli said in an interview. “I know she is sorry about what happened.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul, responding to the news of Ms. Vernikov’s arrest, said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that “New York’s gun safety laws apply to everyone.”
The City Council speaker, Adrienne Adams, said she would refer the matter to the Committee on Standards and Ethics.
“It is unacceptable and unlawful for a civilian to ever bring a firearm to a rally or protest,” Ms. Adams said, “and especially important for elected officials to model a respect for the law that is expected of all New Yorkers.”
Several progressive groups and political figures said Ms. Vernikov should resign or be expelled from her seat, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, members of the City Council’s Progressive Caucus, and Amber Adler, Ms. Vernikov’s Democratic opponent in next month’s general election.
The attack by Hamas on Israel last Saturday and Israel’s subsequent bombardment of Gaza have inflamed political tensions in New York City, which has the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.
A pro-Palestinian rally in Times Square on Sunday that was promoted by New York’s chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America brought condemnation from moderate Democrats and Republicans and was criticized by leading politicians on the left.
Ms. Vernikov, a lawyer who was born in Ukraine, describes herself in her City Council biography as “a leading voice against antisemitism.” She posted a video of herself at the Brooklyn College rally, which was organized by the group Students for Justice in Palestine, saying that the protesters supported Hamas.
“If you’re here today standing with these people, you’re nothing short of a terrorist without the bombs,” Ms. Vernikov said in the video.
Chelsia Rose Marcius and Hurubie Meko contributed reporting.