Yesterday (October 15th), Bensonhurst City Councilor Susan Zhuang appeared in court over accusations of assault on police officers during a protest against the homeless shelter on 86th Street in Brooklyn on July 17th. The court appearance lasted only about a minute, with the judge confirming Zhuang’s decision to waive the grand jury indictment process and agreeing to substitute the indictment with information from the district attorney for the Supreme Court, delaying the trial until January 27, 2025.
Early yesterday, over 200 members of the local Chinese community on 86th Street in Bensonhurst gathered outside the courthouse, holding English slogans “Equal Justice For All” and “Stand With Susan Zhuang” in support of Zhuang. Despite the chilly winds, these supporters expressed their solidarity and trust in Zhuang.
Looking back at the protest on July 17th, a large-scale demonstration occurred on 86th Street against the proposed homeless shelter at 2501, resulting in the arrest of 9 individuals. Subsequently, 7 Chinese individuals were acquitted after appearing in court on August 5th. Zhuang and Vietnamese restaurant owner Thanh Nguyen were accused of assaulting police officers, with Nguyen’s case postponed until October 25th.
On October 15th, Zhuang released a statement thanking the community for their support and expressed pride in the unity of the community. She said, “As the first Chinese-American councilor in Bensonhurst, I will always advocate for underserved and underrepresented communities to ensure our voices are heard and respected.” She mentioned that over three thousand new voters have been registered in the community recently and emphasized that the community’s voice will ring loudly in the elections. “This is just the beginning, we will continue to register more voters for the community so we are no longer ignored.”
The chief of staff of Assemblyman Colton, Helen He, who organized the day’s activities, also expressed their appreciation for the community’s support for Zhuang. While the case is not yet resolved, the residents’ support for Zhuang demonstrates the unity of the community. He believes that this unity will not only inspire Zhuang to better advocate for the community but also help the community overcome challenges to ensure prosperity, harmony, and long-term security.
In addition, community representative Ling Fei expressed at the scene the ongoing pursuit of justice and the insistence on innocence. He believes that there was excessive use of force by the police on July 17th and hopes the government can recognize public opinion. “We hope that eventually Zhuang will be declared innocent, and at the same time, the plan for the homeless shelter can be canceled. Our community has always been a peaceful group, and the police should understand us better to avoid unnecessary conflicts.”