Snowball Fight Fallout Puts Mayor Mamdani at Odds With NYPD Leadership
Police unions condemn mayor’s response after officers injured during blizzard gathering in Washington Square Park
A snowball fight in Manhattan following one of the heaviest snowstorms of the season has escalated into a political dispute between New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and senior police officials, after officers were struck with snow and ice during the gathering.
Video circulating on social media shows dozens of people in Washington Square Park on Monday afternoon throwing snowballs as nearly 20 inches of snow blanketed the city. The footage appears to show the mood shifting after New York Police Department officers arrived in response to emergency calls, with some participants yelling and throwing snowballs toward officers as they moved toward their vehicles.
On Tuesday, the New York City Police Department released images of four individuals it said were involved in assaulting officers. According to police, the men — described as approximately 18 to 20 years old — struck officers multiple times with snow and ice, causing injuries to the head, neck and face. Two officers were taken to hospital and later reported to be in stable condition.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the conduct as “disgraceful” and “criminal,” adding in a social media post that the department would pursue those responsible.
Mayor Mamdani, speaking at a press conference, said that based on the videos he had reviewed, the incident appeared to be “kids at a snowball fight” and suggested charges were unnecessary. In a subsequent post, he urged residents to treat police and other city workers with respect, noting officers had been working during a historic blizzard. “If anyone’s catching a snowball, it’s me,” he wrote.
The mayor reiterated on Wednesday that, in his view, the event was a snowball fight that “got out of hand,” but stopped short of endorsing criminal prosecution.
His comments prompted criticism from police unions. Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association, said the mayor’s remarks represented “a complete failure of leadership,” arguing that officers had been injured by what he described as chunks of ice and rocks. The Sergeants Benevolent Association echoed that concern, warning that dismissing the incident could encourage more serious attacks in the future.
The dispute marks the first significant public clash between Mamdani and police unions since he took office in November. During his mayoral campaign, opponents portrayed him as unsympathetic to law enforcement, pointing to earlier remarks in which he criticised policing practices. After his election, Mamdani retained Commissioner Tisch, an appointee of former mayor Eric Adams, a move widely interpreted as an effort to reassure moderates and business leaders.
Tensions between New York mayors and police unions have historically surfaced during debates over public safety and criminal justice reform. Under former mayor Bill de Blasio, relations with unions deteriorated sharply after he publicly addressed racial disparities in policing.
Political strategist Basil Smikle said that Mamdani’s prior statements about the NYPD mean his reactions are likely to face heightened scrutiny. While some residents may view the incident as a chaotic but ultimately harmless snow-day episode, Smikle noted that police unions tend to interpret any perceived lack of support as consequential.
Washington Square Park has long been a focal point for informal snow-day gatherings, and similar events have taken place in past winters without serious incident. Whether arrests will follow in this case remains unclear, but the episode has already broadened into a debate over public order, accountability and the tone city leaders should adopt when law enforcement officers are injured.