On Tuesday, February 24, while the mayor’s press conference should have focused on the aftermath of the snowstorm, a viral video unexpectedly became the center of attention. The video showed a large group of citizens throwing snowballs at New York City police in Washington Square Park the day before. Mayor Mamdani stated that based on the video he saw, the incident “looked like a snowball fight,” so he did not believe the individuals involved should be charged with assaulting an officer. This response sharply contrasted with the public condemnation from New York City Police Commissioner Tisch and Governor Hochu.
The incident occurred following a rare, intense snowstorm in New York City. A video circulating on X platform on the 23rd showed a group of individuals, appearing to be teenagers, throwing snowballs at police in Washington Square Park. This action sparked strong criticism from the police union and elected officials, who considered it an attack on law enforcement officers.
Police Commissioner Tisch and some in the law enforcement community described the incident as a “criminal act,” with Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) President Hendley urging for criminal charges of assaulting an officer to be brought if the perpetrators could be identified. “Our New York City police officers put their lives at risk every day to protect us. It is absolutely unacceptable to throw anything at the police, without a doubt,” Tisch wrote.
However, the mayor’s response was much more tempered compared to Tisch’s words. He took a noticeably cooler stance at the press conference, acknowledging that officers were “on the front lines assisting the public during the snowstorm” and deserved respect, adding, “The only person among our city employees who should be hit by a snowball is me.”
He did not believe the current situation warranted criminal charges, therefore did not support legal prosecution. “From the footage I’ve seen, it looks like kids having a snowball fight,” the mayor said, noting that he did not know the identities of the participants and had to judge based on the video.
When asked whether he supported bringing criminal charges against those involved, the mayor responded unequivocally, saying, “I do not think so.”
The mayor’s stance stood in contrast to that of elected officials. Several political figures, including incumbent Hochu, former Governor Kumer, and former Mayor Adams, publicly condemned the incident and demanded a clear statement of support for the police from the city government.
When reporters repeatedly asked the mayor whether he believed the public backlash was “overblown,” he avoided directly commenting on the critics, stating that he had already clarified his position.
The city later confirmed that two police officers sustained minor cuts to their faces during the incident, but no serious injuries were reported.
The incident sparked widespread discussions on social platforms. On one side, the law enforcement community and some conservatives believed that even seemingly playful behavior, if posing a danger to the police, should be deemed unacceptable provocation. On the other side, some citizens and civil rights advocates warned that overly criminalizing such incidents could exacerbate tensions between the police and the community.
As of the time of writing, the New York City Police Department had not announced any arrests or decisions on criminal charges.