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On July 17, Brooklyn Councilwoman Susan Zhuang was charged with assault for allegedly biting a police officer. Zhuang, 38, is a newly elected first-term Democratic councilwoman. Her platform focused on amplifying and representing the voices of Asian American voters. The New York City Council is now conducting an ethics investigation to determine whether criminal charges should be filed against her.

During a rally against a proposed homeless shelter in Bensonhurst, tensions grew high as clashes erupted between protestors and the police. According to the NYPD and Zhuang, an 80–year–old protester had fallen beneath a metal barricade. Zhuang said she was attempting to aid and protect the woman when an officer tugged her hair, grasped her neck and handcuffed her. However, the NYPD said that, while officers tried to prevent protestors from pushing the barricades, Zhuang bit the arm of a deputy police chief. Photos released by the department depict the bite mark on the chief’s arm.

At a press conference, Zhaung acknowledged the altercation after being shown a photo of the officer’s arm with a circular bleeding wound. She explained her actions, saying she was “protecting an 81-year-old grandma.” She continued, accusing the cops of being aggressors and using excessive force, labeling it as a case of “police brutality.” While Zhuang expressed her overall support for the NYPD, she emphasized that the actions taken during the protest were an example of misconduct by the officers involved, saying, “Mistreatment by our NYPD, who I always support, it must be stopped, AAPI hate, and Asian hate in any form must end.” She went on to address the issue of excessive enforcement and mistreatment by the NYPD within the Asian community, energizing the crowd of hundreds gathered to watch her.

One supporter expressed her support for Zhuang, declaring, “All those officers were grabbing your hands. You had no choice but to use your mouth. What else could you do to resist?” She described the councilwoman as a hero and a voice for the Asian American community. Yu Xin Chen, the woman the councilwoman alleged she was trying to protect, thanked Zhuang for saving her life and expressed gratitude for her intervention.

Brooklyn Democrats immediately came to Zhuang’s defense, with Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn labeling her arrest “unlawful.” However, others, including New York City’s indicted Mayor Eric Adams, argued there was no excuse for biting an officer.

For now, investigators will continue to gather evidence and assess the details of the incident before determining the next steps regarding Zhuang’s case.