By Trendsetter Tribune 
NEW YORK — A political firestorm is engulfing City Hall after Mayor Zohran Mamdani dismissed a violent encounter that sent two NYPD officers to the hospital as a mere “snowball fight.” On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the Mayor refused to endorse criminal charges for those involved, even as Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and top union leaders characterized the incident at Washington Square Park as a “criminal assault.”
The clash occurred late Monday afternoon following a historic blizzard that dropped nearly 20 inches of snow on the city. What was intended as a social-media-coordinated “Side Talk” gathering turned chaotic when a crowd of hundreds turned on arriving officers.
The Incident: From “Fun” to Facial Lacerations
Around 4:15 p.m. on Monday, officers responded to 911 calls regarding a disorderly crowd in the Greenwich Village park. Viral videos show the situation rapidly deteriorating:
- The Attack: Dozens of individuals surrounded a small group of officers, pelting them with “rough-looking” snowballs, chunks of ice, and jeers. One video shows a person running up behind an officer and smashing snow into the back of their head.
- The Injuries: Two officers suffered facial lacerations and head injuries. They were transported by ambulance to Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital, where they were treated and later released in stable condition.
- The Retreat: Facing an overwhelming crowd, officers were seen retreating to their van while being relentlessly pelted. One officer reportedly brandished a chemical irritant (pepper spray) to keep the crowd at bay as they escaped.
Mamdani’s Response: “If Anyone’s Catching a Snowball, It’s Me”
Despite the hospitalizations, Mayor Mamdani utilized a weather-related press conference on Tuesday to downplay the severity of the encounter. While he called for “respect” for city workers, he repeatedly described the incident as harmless play.
“I’ve seen the videos of kids throwing snowballs at members of the NYPD… From the videos I’ve seen, it looks like a snowball fight. The only person in our city’s workforce who deserves to be treated with a snowball is me.” — Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Feb 24, 2026
The Mayor was referring to his standing invitation for students to throw snowballs at him in protest of his decision to reopen schools for in-person learning on Tuesday.
The Police Backlash: “Disgraceful” and “Criminal”
The Mayor’s comments put him at direct odds with his own Police Commissioner and the city’s largest law enforcement unions, who argue that the snowballs were often “ice-packed projectiles.”
| Official / Organization | Position on the Incident |
| Comm. Jessica Tisch | Labeled the behavior “disgraceful and criminal,” confirming that detectives have opened a formal investigation. |
| PBA President Patrick Hendry | Called Mamdani’s response a “complete failure of leadership,” noting that “adults throwing chunks of ice and rocks” is an assault, not a game. |
| DEA President Scott Munro | Demanded that District Attorney Alvin Bragg prosecute every individual involved, stating there should be “no get out of jail free card.” |
| Gov. Kathy Hochul | Rebuked the Mayor’s tone, stating it is “never acceptable” to throw anything at a police officer, “full stop.” |
The Political Cost
The incident has reopened deep wounds between the Mayor and the NYPD. Critics, including former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, were quick to link the disrespect shown in the park to Mamdani’s past rhetoric as a candidate.
While the Mayor has recently attempted to pivot toward a more moderate relationship with the department—reappointing Commissioner Tisch in December—this latest defense of the “snowball fight” has left rank-and-file officers feeling “abandoned” by City Hall.