New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing sharp criticism after saying he does not believe suspects who allegedly injured two NYPD officers during a chaotic incident in Washington Square Park should face charges.
The controversy erupted following an exchange at a Tuesday press conference, where a reporter asked Mamdani whether those involved in the incident would be prosecuted.
“I’ve seen the videos of the snowball fight, I think that it was a snowball fight,” Mamdani replied.
But police leaders quickly pushed back on that characterization, pointing to injuries sustained by two officers who were sent to the hospital.
“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 President Patrick Hendry said, according to ABC7NY.
Mamdani later acknowledged that the officers suffered injuries. “I think that there were two officers who were facing lacerations on their face,” he said Tuesday.
According to reports, officers responded to Washington Square Park in Manhattan on Monday after receiving a call about several individuals on a rooftop. When officers arrived on the scene, police said the crowd began throwing snowballs at them.
Two officers were transported to the emergency room after allegedly being struck in the face and head, ABC7NY reported.
Despite the injuries, Mamdani stopped short of condemning the alleged attack or calling for charges. Instead, he urged New Yorkers to treat officers with respect while maintaining his view of the incident.
“I’ve seen the videos of kids throwing snowballs at NYPD officers in Washington Square Park,” Mamdani wrote on X. “Officers, like all city workers, have been out in a historic blizzard, keeping New Yorkers safe and cars moving. Treat them with respect. If anyone’s catching a snowball, it’s me.”
The mayor’s remarks drew strong reactions from current and former officials.
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo blasted Mamdani on X, referencing the mayor’s past comments about law enforcement.
“This is disgraceful. But with a mayor who has a history of calling the police ‘racist, evil, wicked and corrupt,’ he set the tone,” Cuomo wrote. “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.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch also weighed in, calling the behavior “criminal” in a post on X and confirming that detectives are investigating the incident.
The Detectives’ Endowment Association echoed those concerns. In a statement posted to X, DEA President Scott Munro called on both Mayor Mamdani and District Attorney Alvin Bragg to ensure accountability.
“The [DEA] is calling on Mayor Mamdani and District Attorney Bragg to ensure every individual responsible for this illegal behavior is prosecuted,” Munro said in part. “No free pass. No get out of jail free card.”
The incident has intensified debate over public safety and respect for law enforcement in New York City. While Mamdani characterized the scene as a snowball fight and emphasized respect for officers, police leaders argue the facts point to something far more serious — an assault that left two officers injured and in the hospital.
As detectives continue their investigation, the clash highlights growing tensions between City Hall and law enforcement at a time when public safety remains a central concern for many New Yorkers.
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