Mamdani Responds After Snowballs Hit NYPD Officers

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the incident Monday afternoon in Washington Square Park, where two New York City police officers were struck by snowballs during a large gathering.

“So I've seen videos of kids throwing snowballs at members of the NYPD in Washington Square Park, and first I want to say that officers have been on the front line of helping our city respond to this blizzard,” Mamdani said. “They have been keeping New Yorkers safe, and they have also been at the heart of our efforts of digging New Yorkers’ cars out of these kinds of conditions and ensuring that our ambulances or MTA buses can keep functioning across this city. They and our entire city workforce deserve to be treated with respect.

At a press conference on Tuesday, when asked whether the "kids" throwing the snowballs should face criminal charges, he said from the videos he saw it looked like a mere "snowball fight."

"The only person in our city's workforce who deserves to be treated with a snowball is me," he added.

The officers arrived around 4 p.m. after a 911 call reported a disorderly crowd near the park’s fountain.

The gathering, promoted online hours earlier, drew hundreds of people, some of whom began hurling snowballs as officers entered the center of the plaza.

Video from bystanders shows officers struck in the face and chest by packed snowballs. One officer shoved a man to the ground, while another pursued a person across the snow-covered pavement. Additional officers moved in as the snowball barrage continued. At least one person was arrested during the confrontation.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed detectives are reviewing footage to identify those involved. The Police Benevolent Association reported several officers received medical treatment.