


Republican Brooklyn Councilwoman Inna Vernikov was arrested Thursday when she was spotted toting a firearm at a rally to support Palestine – resulting in calls for her to be removed from office.
The councilwoman, who is Jewish and has spoken out against pro-Palestine supporters, was in attendance as protesters convened on the campus of CUNY’s Brooklyn College Thursday.
“[Vernikov] was observed with the but-end of a firearm (handgun) protruding from the front portion of her pants” while observing the protest between noon and 2:45 p.m. Thursday, police sources told The Post.
“The Councilwoman eventually left the location and upon notification to police, the Councilwoman was contacted and she turned herself in to the 70 Precinct, in the company of her attorney [around 2:50 a.m. Friday],” the sources continued.
The 39-year-old was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm because she was on school grounds, the sources said.
She surrendered her gun and her firearm permit, and was not processed but instead given a desk appearance ticket, they noted.
“At no point in time was anyone menaced or injured as a result of her possessing the firearm at the earlier protest,” police sources told The Post.
Although Vernikov has a concealed carry permit, it is illegal in New York State to have a firearm at sensitive locations such as protests or school grounds.
Later on Vernikov shared a video of herself speaking outside the controversial protest on X.
“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 a HAMAS supporter & apologist who would like to bring the terror here to rid the world of the Jewish people,” she wrote alongside the clip.
While Vernikov’s gun was not visible in her own video, other images and footage of the councilwoman with the handgun clearly displayed in her pants quickly made the rounds on social media.
“At today’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,” CUNY4Palestine tweeted alongside one such image.
“These are the tactics of force and intimidation used by zionist groups to silence any support for Palestine.”
“She should lose her job and the gun license taken away from her,” on attendee commented.
“This is a domestic terrorist,” a third chimed in.
A few social media users also reposted the photos of Vernikov with her weapon in full view alongside the hashtag “ExpelVernikov.”