Protests enter seventh day: Controversy over homeless at 86th Street, Brooklyn remains unsettled.

On the evening of July 23, the protest at the homeless shelter on 86th Street in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn continued as demonstrators gathered on both sides of the sidewalk protesting the construction of the shelter by developers. The protest has been ongoing for seven days since the conflict erupted on July 17.

During the protest on July 17, Councilwoman Jane Chuang was charged with eight offenses including second-degree assault, resisting arrest, unlawful assembly, and obstructing governmental administration after biting the arm of Deputy Patrolman Frank DiGiacomo while protecting an elderly woman.

Mayor Eric Adams, in an interview with PIX11 News on the 18th, expressed his intention to reach a “resolution” by contacting Councilwoman Jane Chuang. He emphasized that the issue of setting up homeless shelters has become highly emotional and urged finding non-violent means to solve these issues. Chuang herself, at a press conference on the 18th, stated her support for the police but disagreed with the use of force by law enforcement during the protests, deeming it unnecessary.

According to a tweet by Politico journalist Jeff Coltin on July 19, Councilwoman Jane Chuang met with Mayor Adams on the 19th. Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairperson and State Assembly member who accompanied her to the meeting, confirmed that Chuang remains an ally to the law enforcement agencies, a point acknowledged by the NYPD, despite the charges brought against her.

The Asian community is planning a large-scale march on Sunday, July 28, to protest the police’s heavy-handed treatment. The march will start from Foley Square in Manhattan, cross the Brooklyn Bridge, and culminate at Cadman Plaza Park.

State Senator Julie Qu also released a statement following the events on July 17, emphasizing the urgent community concerns regarding the shelter plan on 86th Street and the need for security and transparency from the Mayor’s office. She tweeted yesterday, once again urging the Mayor’s office to respond to the events and engage in dialogue with the community, listening to their voices and providing answers.