NYPD cops hospitalized after mob pelts them with snow, ice—Mamdani claims it was just a 'snowball fight'

Zohran Mamdani has refused to call an incident a crime where a mob of New Yorkers pelted NYPD officers with snowballs on Tuesday. After the incident, the mayor later said it just “looks like a snowball fight" after some of the officers had to go to the hospital for injuries. 

“I’ve seen videos of kids doing 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.”

“They have been keeping New Yorkers safe, and they have also been at the heart of our efforts of taking care of New Yorkers in these kinds of conditions … They and our entire city workforce deserve to be treated with respect. The only person in our city’s workforce who deserves to be treated with a snowball is me,” he quipped.

However, police unions have said that those who threw the snow and ice should be facing assault charges against the police. PBA President Patrick Hendry said, “The individuals involved must be identified, arrested and charged with assault on a police officer. And all of our city leaders must speak up to condemn this despicable attack,” per the New York Post.

Mamdani disagreed and called it a “snowball fight.” Multiple police officers got lacerations on their faces from the altercations.

He also said he did not want charges filed against the people throwing the snow when asked about the videos. When asked about the police union's comments that charges should be brought, Mamdani told reporters, “I don’t from the videos that I’ve seen." He added, “It looks like a snowball fight.”

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a post to X, “The NYPD is aware of certain videos taken earlier today in Washington Square Park showing individuals attacking cops. I want to be very clear: The behavior depicted is disgraceful, and it is criminal. Our detectives are investigating this matter.”