Susan Zhuang cop-biting incident highlights deep divides among southern Brooklyn Democrats

A pro-police conservative Democratic City Council member was arrested for allegedly biting into a cop’s arm at a protest against a homeless shelter in her purple, pro-police district on Wednesday. Responses to Council Member Susan Zhuang’s arrest were filled with as many contradictions as the incident itself. 

In a statement, two of Zhuang’s Southern Brooklyn Democratic colleagues called Zhuang’s alleged action “deeply disturbing” and “unbecoming of an elected official.” “The law must be applied fairly and fully regardless of Council Member Zhuang’s status as an elected official or her self-portrayal as a champion of law and order,” state Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Council Member Justin Brannan said in a joint statement. Earlier, Brannan tweeted, “What ever happened to McGruff?” referring to the cartoon dog known for “taking a bite out of crime.”

But Zhuang received a strong show of support from Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, who referred to Zhuang being attacked by a “mob of unknown forces, allegedly police officers” though Bichotte Hermelyn offered no evidence that anybody but actual cops were policing the protest. “The Council Member was said to have been choked – and has bruises all over her body,” Bichotte Hermelyn said in a statement. “Susan did not intend to hurt anyone; she was standing up for her community, and surely not the NYPD, as she has a longstanding record of supporting law enforcement and is endorsed by several police unions.”

Other lawmakers have given Zhuang more benefit of the doubt, including Council Member Bob Holden, a conservative Democrat and fellow member of the council’s Common Sense Caucus. “I don't know all the details,” Holden said. “If somebody's choking you, I don't know what I would do,… I don't condone it. I'm pro-police all the way, but I know there's some times cops do cross the line.” 

Assembly Member Bill Colton, Zhuang’s political mentor, was at Zhuang’s side as she defended her actions at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

The varying reactions from Zhuang’s Democratic colleagues, particularly those in Southern Brooklyn, shouldn’t be all that surprising to anyone tuning into the factionalism that’s plagued Democratic politics in the area lately. 

Zhuang, the former chief of staff to Colton, won election to the newly created majority Asian American council district in Southern Brooklyn last November. The competitive general election followed an even fiercer Democratic primary that saw the area’s Democratic elected officials split along stubborn factions. 

Zhuang was backed by Colton in the primary against Wai Yee Chan, who had the support of Colton’s archrival, former Assembly Member Peter Abbate. Brannan and Gounardes also backed Chan. While the Brooklyn Democratic Party did not take an official stance in the primary, Bichotte Hermelyn has criticized Chan and her allegiance with Brannan and the Bay Ridge Democrats club.

Bichotte Hermelyn and Brannan have come to bitter blows in recent election cycles. Those affiliated with the Brooklyn Democratic Party have repeatedly clashed with candidates affiliated with the more progressive Bay Ridge Democrats club and reformer groups, including in down ballot district leader races.

The infighting in Southern Brooklyn Democratic politics has produced political contradictions of its own, including head-spinning accusations of party trading in some knock-down drag-out electoral fights. After losing the City Council Democratic primary, Chan donated to the Republican candidate running against Zhuang in the general election. And in his own reelection race last fall, Brannan accused Bichotte Hermelyn of helping his Republican opponent, former Council Member (and former Democrat) Ari Kagan. 

The varying responses among Democratic politicians to Zhuang’s arrest can be attributed to decades-long beef, said Democratic political strategist Trip Yang. “I don’t view this as ideological, I view this as a continuation of personality conflicts,” he said.

Huge turnout for CM Susan Zhuang’s press conference a day after she’s accused of allegedly biting a NYPD officer while protesting a homeless shelter planned for her district. pic.twitter.com/hohdMPFhv7

— Sahalie Donaldson (@SahalieD) July 18, 2024

State Sen. Iwen Chu, whose 2022 election was backed by the Abbate-Brannan-Bay Ridge Democrats camp, said in a statement on Thursday that she shares concerns about the building of a homeless shelter at 86th Street in Bensonhurst, and called for transparency from the mayor’s office in “how they plan to keep our community safe under this proposal.” But Chu also condemned the escalation to violence at Wednesday’s protest. “As elected leaders, we have a responsibility to set the example for our community,” she said in a statement.

Chu and Zhuang, along with Assembly Member Lester Chang, represent a growing wave of Asian American political power in Southern Brooklyn. Their ability to overcome political divides and intraparty factionalism to achieve common goals for their communities remains to be proven, however. 

At a packed press conference Thursday afternoon, Zhuang claimed she was trying to protect an 81-year-old grandmother protesting who’d been knocked to the floor when an officer grabbed her from behind “using excessive force.” She alleged one officer grabbed her hair and another grabbed her neck. She’d acted instinctively to protect herself, Zhuang argued – appearing with several witnesses to the arrest at her side.  Hundreds from the district turned up Thursday to hear her speak, chanting her name as she walked in and audibly expressing their anger as videos showed the elderly woman laying on the ground. 

“All those involved must face full accountability for their conduct,” Zhuang said, not specifying whether or not that included herself. “The NYPD also is not exempt to this conduct. They should have no double standard for themselves too.” Zhuang never addressed her own alleged conduct at the protest. 

Zhuang repeatedly decried violence against the Asian community, saying she will always fight to protect her own. “I support NYPD, but we cannot support any police brutality,” she said. 

The NYPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Zhuang’s allegations. 

Jerry Goldfeder, senior counsel for Zhuang, said they wouldn’t be taking any questions given ongoing legal proceedings.

City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams declined to comment on whether the council will have any disciplinary process or investigation until after the legal process plays out.  

In her short time in office, Zhuang has led multiple protests against the shelter on 86th Street – an issue that’s galvanized her constituents. Her arrest on Wednesday may only build her positive profile among some of those constituents, Yang suggested. “I actually think with core Chinese American activists in Bensonhurst, this actually makes her even more of a rockstar, which she generally has been,” he said.