(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) NYC Councilwoman Inna Vernikov was apprehended by law enforcement authorities on Friday evening following allegations of her possessing a firearm at a Brooklyn college rally.
The event was part of a disturbing pro-Palestine demonstration, described as the “Day of Jihad,” which raised significant concerns due to its ties with the Hamas terrorist organization.
“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.”
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
While Vernikov voluntarily surrendered herself, along with her licensed handgun, the NYPD announced that the license was suspended.
“At no point in time was anyone menaced or injured as a result of her possessing the firearm at the earlier protest,” the police department added, according to Fox News.
In a video that surfaced during the rally, Vernikov was captured condemning the actions of the pro-Hamas supporters, who have rallied in support of Hamas’s last week’s terrorist acts against Israel. So far, over 1,300 Israelis have been killed, in addition to numerous Americans. Several women and children were taken captive.
“If you are here today standing with these people, you are nothing short of a terrorist without the bombs,” she asserted. “I’m here at the pro-Hamas rally in Brooklyn College. There is a ton of police, and we made sure that Jewish students feel safe today.”
The pro-Hamas demonstration gained momentum following calls from Hamas terrorists, including founder Khaled Meshal and political chief Ismail Haniyeh, calling on a Muslim uprising against Israel.
Haniyeh declared, “This is the battle of not only the Palestinians or the Gazans, it is the battle of all the Arab and Muslim nations,” while Meshal called on Jordans to cross the border into Israel. “[We must] head to the squares and streets of the Arab and Islamic world on Friday,” Meshal said. “Tribes of Jordan, sons of Jordan, brothers and sisters of Jordan… This is a moment of truth and the borders are close to you, you all know your responsibility.”
In response to the escalating tensions, the NYPD issued a directive mandating all officers to report to duty on Friday.
“All uniformed members of the service in every rank, will perform duty in the uniform of the day and be prepared for deployment.”
Thank you @nycmayor for not only standing with Israel and Jews worldwide, but doing so with such powerful words and empathy. Please share this video far and wide so it can bring some level of comfort and strength to a nation in such a dark hour.
Video Credit: Rafael Elias pic.twitter.com/UEP4TBebD1
— Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (@InnaVernikov) October 13, 2023
