New York Councilwoman Inna Vernikov cleared of criminal charge for bringing gun to pro-Palestinian rally. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office dropped the charge as the firearm was inoperable. Vernikov had a license for the gun but New York law prohibits firearms at protests. A progressive group had called for her expulsion from the council. Vernikov, a Jewish Republican from Brooklyn, is one of six Republicans on the 51-member City Council and is the minority whip, representing the 48th district in south Brooklyn. She was reelected earlier this month with a decisive win over Democratic challenger Amber Adler, who is also Jewish.
