What began as a lighthearted snowball fight during New York City’s recent blizzard has escalated into a political dispute between Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the city’s police leadership.
Footage recorded Monday afternoon in Washington Square Park shows what initially appeared to be a typical post-snowstorm gathering spiraling into chaos, with some participants seemingly throwing snowballs at responding police officers.
The storm had blanketed the city with nearly 20 inches of snow, and the park—located in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village—is known for drawing large crowds during major snowfalls. Similar snow-day gatherings, including another just weeks earlier, had taken place without incident.
However, Monday’s event took a different turn. After NYPD officers arrived following 911 calls, videos show individuals shouting profanities and hurling snowballs as officers retreated toward their vehicles.
The department later stated that four men, believed to be between 18 and 20 years old, intentionally struck officers multiple times with snow and ice, targeting their heads, necks, and faces. Two officers sustained injuries and were transported to a hospital, where they were reported to be in stable condition.
On Tuesday, the NYPD released images of four suspects accused of assaulting officers during the confrontation. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch condemned the incident on social media, calling the conduct “disgraceful” and explicitly labeling it criminal.
Mayor Mamdani, however, took a more measured stance. Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, he said that based on the videos he reviewed, the situation appeared to be “kids at a snowball fight” and suggested that criminal charges were unnecessary.
In a subsequent social media post, he emphasized that city employees, including police officers, had worked through a historic storm to keep residents safe and deserved respect. “If anyone’s catching a snowball, it’s me,” he added, attempting to inject humor into the situation.
By Wednesday, Mamdani reiterated his view, describing the incident as a snowball fight that “got out of hand” but remained just that. He even jokingly invited schoolchildren to throw snowballs at him in response to his decision to reopen schools after the blizzard.
Police unions reacted sharply. Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), criticized the mayor’s response as a failure of leadership. He argued that the confrontation was not a harmless snowball fight but an assault involving ice and rocks that sent two officers to the hospital with head and facial injuries. Hendry warned that the mayor’s remarks risked emboldening future attacks against officers.
Vincent Vallelong, president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), echoed those concerns, cautioning that what starts with snowballs could escalate to rocks or bottles.
This marks the first significant clash between Mamdani and police unions since he took office. Prior to his election, he had apologized for earlier remarks describing the NYPD as “racist” and “a threat to public safety.” During his campaign, opponents frequently portrayed him as unfriendly toward law enforcement. After winning in November, he retained Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch—originally appointed by former Mayor Eric Adams—in what many saw as a move to reassure moderates and business leaders about his stance on crime.
Political strategist Basil Smikle noted that tensions between New York mayors and police unions are not uncommon, particularly when mayors have a history of advocating criminal justice reform.
He said Mamdani is attempting to balance avoiding harmful narratives about young people of color while not appearing dismissive of police concerns. Given the mayor’s past statements, Smikle added, any comments he makes about law enforcement are likely to be scrutinized closely.
Smikle also pointed to the strained relationship between former Mayor Bill de Blasio and police unions, which deteriorated after de Blasio highlighted racial disparities in policing. At one point, the PBA accused him of bearing responsibility after two officers were fatally shot during his administration.
In Mamdani’s case, Smikle suggested that even if some view the snowball incident as playful, it is difficult to separate the optics from broader perceptions about his stance on policing. As a result, the mayor’s handling of the episode continues to draw intense attention.