New York City Council Member Chi Ossé was arrested Wednesday during a protest against a planned eviction in Brooklyn, according to his office and police officials.
Video circulating on social media shows officers taking Ossé to the ground and placing him in handcuffs as demonstrators attempted to block city marshals from accessing a Bedford-Stuyvesant property. The councilmember had approached officers who were detaining another protester moments before his own arrest.
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An aide confirmed Ossé was taken to a local precinct following the incident. The New York Police Department reported that he received a desk appearance ticket and faces one count of obstructing governmental administration and two counts of disorderly conduct. Authorities indicated that multiple individuals were arrested after failing to comply with orders to disperse.
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Ossé’s office stated the eviction stemmed from alleged deed theft, a form of fraud involving the transfer of property ownership. The office emphasized that such cases have increased in recent years and disproportionately affect Black homeowners. In a statement, staff asserted, “These protections are the bare minimum, and families cannot wait any longer. Not another Black homeowner should have their home stolen. Until deed theft ends, we will fight every single day.”
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the arrest during a separate press conference, describing the situation as “incredibly concerning” based on initial reports. He noted that the incident would be reviewed, both in terms of the arrest itself and the underlying housing dispute.
Council leadership also indicated they were in contact with law enforcement to ensure the council member’s safety following the arrest.
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