NYC Councilwoman Inna Vernikov was reported to have brandished a weapon illegally at yesterday’s pro-Palestine Brooklyn College protest led by the college’s Students for Justice in Palestine chapter. Numerous students called out the behavior, identifying it to the police. Vernikov reportedly would walk up to youth trying to allegedly intimidate them by calling them “terrorists” and referring to them as “Hamas.” Students reported feeling threatened by the presence of a weapon.

For Councilwoman Vernikov to reportedly openly carry a gun in public and use her status to intimidate youth is a gross abuse of her public authority. Not only is her alleged behavior illegal, but it blatantly undermines the students’ constitutional right to protest and engage in free speech. Vernikov is unfit to hold public office and must be immediately removed. We call for Speaker Adams and the NYC Council to oust her for such behavior.