NYPD Officers Injured in Huge Snowball Fight; Mamdani Pelted for Comments

Can You Believe It?

New York City, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is under fire for comments he made dismissing the seriousness of injuries to four New York Police Department officers who were injured breaking up a snowball fight.

After the recent winter storm in New York, when more than two feet of snow fell on the city, officials said an “epic” snowball fight broke out in Washington Square Park. Videos showed the snowball fight that was organized on social media devolved into what appeared to be an attack on police officers.

Washington Square Park in Manhattan's Greenwich Village is frequently the site of snow-day activities and snowball fights, and often draws large crowds on snowy days.

But officials said the tone of Monday's snowball fight changed. After NYPD officers arrived in response to 911 calls, people began yelling profanities and throwing snowballs as officers walked through the crowds.

A video of the melee that went viral on social media showed two uniformed officers walking through the crowd as snowballs flew at them from all directions, covering them in snow. The officers seemingly grew visibly frustrated and shoved at least two people to the ground as they continued to get hit by snowballs. At one point, the video showed someone run up to an officer and smash snow onto his head. One of the officers can also be seen rubbing his eye in the video.

In a statement Tuesday, the New York Police Department said multiple uniformed officers were struck in the face with snowballs and were “removed by EMS in stable condition” to a nearby hospital, but did not disclose additional information on their injuries.

Police officials said some members of the crowd seemed to be intentionally targeting police officers. An NYPD spokesperson said several members of the crowd "intentionally struck the police officers multiple times with snow and ice in the head, neck, and face causing injuries."

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the department was reviewing the videos and said some actions of the people in the park were "disgraceful" and "criminal." The NYPD later released photos of four individuals whom they said may have been involved in the incident.

But at a press conference Tuesday, Mamdani asked city residents to show police officers and city worker respect.

"The only person in our city's workforce who deserves to be treated with a snowball is me," he said, referring NYC school children who were upset with his decision to have classes resume on Tuesday. Mamdani went on to say the video looked like “kids at a snowball fight” and that those involved should not face charges.  

But the NYC Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association said the incident was "unacceptable and outrageous," and that the mayor’s response was "a failure of leadership."

“This was not just a 'snowball fight.' This was an assault — by adults throwing chunks of ice and rocks — that landed two police officers in the hospital with head and face injuries," Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Patrick Hendry said in a statement on Tuesday. "The mayor has sent a disgraceful message to every police officer who serves this city, and a dangerous message to every person who might be looking to attack a police officer in the future."

Another police group, the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) agreed.

"Today it is snowballs. Tomorrow it could be rocks, bottles, or worse," said SBA President Vincent Vallelong.

Basil Smikle, a political strategist, told The Guardian Mamdani had to balance the needs of residents and police officers.

"The mayor is trying to walk a fine line between not giving into narratives about young people of color in this city, which is important," he said. "The police officers themselves and the PBA are always going to be sensitive to the mayor not standing up for police."

On Wednesday, Mamdani doubled down on how he views the incident.

Mayor Mamdani gave the same answers to the same questions on Wednesday, minimizing the melee in the park that left two police officers injured, and several others covered in snow and ice.

No one was arrested and the mayor believes no one should be.

"I've said that what I saw was a snowball fight. It should be treated accordingly. It was one that got out of hand. But that's what it was," he said. "I've said again and again of my views on this snowball fight, and I'm appreciative of the work that my police commissioner does and the work that we are doing to keep New Yorkers safe across the city. And that's the work that I'm looking forward to continuing.”

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