Mamdani Downplays Mob That Injured NYPD Officers, Calls It ‘A Snowball Fight’

New York City Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing backlash after dismissing an incident in which a crowd surrounded NYPD officers and hurled snowballs at them, sending multiple officers to the hospital with minor injuries.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Mamdani rejected calls to charge those involved. After being asked whether he would support prosecution, the mayor replied that the footage he reviewed showed nothing more than “a snowball fight.”

“I think there were two officers who were facing lacerations on their face,” Mamdani said. When pressed about charges, he added, “Look, I’ve seen the videos of this snowball fight. I think that it was a snowball fight.”

The comments contrast sharply with statements from other New York officials. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the incident as both “disgraceful” and “criminal.”

“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,” Tisch said. “Our detectives are investigating this matter.”

Video circulating online shows officers attempting to move through a crowd in Washington Square Park as people pelted them with snowballs and dumped large piles of snow on their heads. At one point, individuals appeared to block the officers’ path. In another clip, a group of officers can be seen retreating while snowballs continued to fly. No arrests have been announced.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also condemned the incident.

“Our NYPD officers put themselves on the line to protect us every day. It is never acceptable to throw anything at a police officer, full stop,” Hochul said.

Mamdani’s political rivals quickly seized on his response. Former Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo criticized the mayor, arguing that his past rhetoric toward law enforcement has contributed to growing hostility toward police.

“Words have consequences. We are seeing that in the growing disrespect for law enforcement — just as we’ve seen it in the rise in antisemitism. Real leaders understand that. This mayor does not,” Cuomo said.

Mamdani referred to those involved as “kids,” though a reporter questioned whether that was confirmed.

“I can just tell you from the video I saw it looked like kids at a snowball fight,” Mamdani responded.

Despite downplaying the incident, the mayor did urge respect for law enforcement, noting that officers had been working throughout the blizzard to keep residents safe.

“Officers have been on the front line of helping us respond to this blizzard. They have been keeping New Yorkers safe … they and our entire city workforce, of course, deserve to be treated with respect,” Mamdani said.

He added jokingly, “The only person in our city’s workforce who deserves to be treated with a snowball is me,” referencing earlier remarks inviting frustrated students to throw snowballs at him over remote class decisions during the storm.