NYC Mayor Calls for Respect Toward Police After Snowball Incident
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly urged residents to treat police officers "with respect" following a controversial incident where NYPD officers were struck with snowballs during a large gathering at Washington Square Park. The event occurred on Monday afternoon after a major winter storm blanketed the city, drawing widespread attention as videos circulated online showing crowds engaged in a snowball fight with officers as targets.
Police Respond to Disorderly Crowd Amid Blizzard Conditions
According to the New York City Police Department, officers were dispatched to Washington Square Park shortly after 4:15 pm in response to multiple 911 calls reporting a large crowd gathering during blizzard conditions. Instead of dispersing peacefully, some individuals in the crowd allegedly began throwing snowballs at uniformed officers. Police officials confirmed that multiple officers were struck, with at least two seeking medical evaluation for minor injuries. Fortunately, no major injuries were reported from the incident.
Videos from the scene showed officers attempting to manage the crowd as snowballs flew through the air, with one officer appearing to suffer a cut near the eye during the confrontation.
Mamdani's Measured Response Contrasts with Police Condemnation
While police leadership strongly condemned the behavior as criminal, Mayor Mamdani struck a more measured tone in his response. "I've seen the videos of kids throwing snowballs at NYPD officers," Mamdani said in an official statement. "Officers, like all city workers, have been out in a historic blizzard keeping New Yorkers safe. Treat them with respect. If anyone's catching a snowball, it's me."
The mayor described the episode as largely a snowball fight and expressed his view that participants should not face criminal charges. "From the videos I've seen, it looks like a snowball fight," he reiterated, emphasizing that while respect for public workers is essential, the situation did not appear to warrant serious legal action.
Police Commissioner and Unions Demand Stronger Response
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch issued a strong rebuke of the incident, calling it unacceptable and criminal. "I want to be very clear. The behaviour depicted is disgraceful, and it is criminal. Our detectives are investigating this matter," Tisch declared in a social media post.
Police unions echoed similar concerns, with the Police Benevolent Association describing the incident as an "assault" and arguing that officers were deliberately targeted. The Detectives' Endowment Association stated that the behavior crossed the line from harmless fun into criminal conduct and urged authorities to identify and prosecute those responsible.
Political Leaders Criticize Mayor's Stance
New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined in condemning the incident, emphasizing that attacks on law enforcement cannot be tolerated. "Our NYPD officers put themselves on the line to protect us every day. It is never acceptable to throw anything at a police officer, full stop," Hochul stated firmly.
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo emerged as one of Mamdani's most vocal critics, calling the mayor's response inadequate and linking the incident to broader concerns about respect for law enforcement. Cuomo argued that city leaders must clearly condemn attacks on officers and warned that downplaying such incidents could undermine police authority and morale.
Historic Snowfall Triggers Viral Gathering
The snowball fight was reportedly coordinated through social media platforms and attracted a substantial crowd, similar to another gathering that occurred weeks earlier following a previous snowstorm. The storm that triggered Monday's gathering ranked among the most significant in recent years, with Central Park recording nearly 20 inches of snow—making it one of the city's heaviest snowfalls in over a decade.
While no arrests have been made thus far, police officials confirmed that investigations remain ongoing as they review evidence and identify potential participants in the incident.
