A police-loving city councilmember has accused the NYPD of “brutality” and “Asian hate” after she allegedly bit an officer during a violent clash at a protest in southern Brooklyn.
“Police brutality is wrong, the misuse of enforcement is wrong, the act of violence against innocent citizens is wrong,” councilwoman Susan Zhuang (D-43) said to a packed room of constituents and reporters on Thursday.
“The issue is not unique to myself, as many members in [the] Asian community have been subject to this use of enforcement [and] mistreatment by our NYPD, who I always support” she added.
Zhuang, who represents the newly formed, majority-Asian, 43rd District, was arrested on several charges including assault and resisting arrest on Wednesday in Gravesend during a protest of a men’s shelter being constructed in the area.
She claims an elderly woman had become stuck under a barricade and when police failed to help her, the “community jumped to protect her” — which led to the alleged chomp on Deputy Chief of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South Frank DiGiacomo’s arm.
“I tried to help her and I was approached from behind. Two police officers handcuffed me, each hand, and one police officer [was] pulling my hair, and another officer grabbed my neck,” she claimed.
The woman in question, Yu Xin Chen, 78, backed Zhuang’s claims to The Post, hailing her heroism.
“If Susan hadn’t separated me from the barrier, I would have gotten killed. The council lady is a hero. She saved my life,” Chen said.
Hundreds turned out to hear the lawmaker speak on Thursday afternoon, enthusiastically cheering and chanting her name as they gave Zhuang a standing ovation.
Her team played the crowd several videos from the confrontation — many which have gone viral.
The footage was met with a chorus of loud booing and wincing from Zhuang’s supporters.
“We were not armed citizens, we came for the protest against unnecessary shelter,” Zhuang bellowed to her supporters.
Tony Yang, 19, claimed he was also “pinned down” by officers at the scene.
“Why does it take five cops just for me? I’m 19 years old. I did not do anything wrong,” he said.
Gary Chen, 68, who was also at Wednesday’s demonstration said Zhuang would “never harm anybody.”
“She was grabbed around the hair and brutally assaulted. If that happened to you, you would certainly respond – unconsciously respond to defend yourself,” he said.
Zhuang caveated her comments with her unwavering support for the NYPD — particularly noting her family connection to slain NYPD detective Wenjian Liu.
The lawmaker, who has held her seat for less than a year, has also been a big proponent for law enforcement, previously opposing the controversial How Many Stops Act — which requires a comprehensive accounting of all NYPD street stops, investigative encounters and consent searches.
“I trust the NYPD commissioner, my local police precincts, and police officers when they tell me that this legislation will make NYC less safe,” she told The Post about the bill earlier this year.
This morning, Mayor Eric Adams called Zhuang’s arrest “complicated” and noted she is new to her role as a council member.
“I was a little surprised that this happened with the councilwoman, she’s extremely supportive of police. I’m going to reach out to the councilwoman. She’s a newly elected,” he said to Pix 11.
The seemingly soft approach raised eyebrows within city council.
“I honestly don’t think that some of my other members would be receiving the same level of grace from the mayor in a sit down conversation right now. I really don’t,” Speaker Adrienne Adams said, but agreed Zhuang was new to her role as a civil servant.
Hundreds were at the demonstration on Wednesday morning complaining of noise, a lack of permits and no community consultation.
The City confirmed that the site has active demolition permits issued by the Department of Buildings to take down the existing structure and that residents were notified last November.
The new shelter — proposed for 2501 86th St. at 25th Avenue in Gravesend — would be constructed as a hotel, complete with a community center, and then contracted by the city.
Zhuang is facing charges of second-degree assault, third-degree assault, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, unlawful assembly, second-degree harassment and two counts of disorderly conduct.
She was released following an arraignment Wednesday evening and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 15.
— Additional reporting from Haley Brown.
