Mamdani refuses to call mob launching snowballs at cops a ‘criminal’ act, says it just ‘looks like a snowball fight’

I don't recall believing I could throw snowballs at cop cars growing up. Silly me!

Mamdani refuses to call mob launching snowballs at cops a ‘criminal’ act, says it just ‘looks like a snowball fight’

By Craig McCarthy, Amanda Woods and Matt Troutman

Published Feb. 24, 2026,

S’no respect!

Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday dismissed viral videos of New Yorkers pelting NYPD officers with snow – contending it was just a “snowball fight.”

The frozen fracas in Washington Square Park on Monday had drawn wide outrage from pro-police pols and unions, with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch deeming it “criminal” and saying the department was investigating.

But when Mamdani was asked if he agreed, he effectively waved off the snowy skirmish as childish mischief gone overboard.

“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,” he told reporters during a news conference proving updates on the 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.

“Treat them with respect,” Mamdani said. “If anyone’s catching a snowball, it’s me.”

Anger over the flake-filled free-for-all snowballed for nearly a day before Mamdani addressed it – and the controversy didn’t melt away afterward.

Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Union, called Mamdani’s response a “complete failure of leadership.”

“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,” he said.

“By ignoring their injuries and dismissing the incident, the mayor has sent a disgraceful message to every police officer who serves this city, and a dangerous message to every person who might be looking to attack a police officer in the future.”

The president of the Sergeant’s Benevolent Association, Vincent Vallelong, also decried the mayor’s response.

“You are now the leader of these officers, it’s time to show leadership not sarcasm,” he said.

The icy incident unfolded as a rowdy post-blizzard snowball fight erupted in Washington Square Park, which prompted a concerned bystander to call 911, police sources said.

The “3rd Annual Sidetalk Snowball Fight” appears to have been organized by the popular New York City-based Instagram show, Sidetalk, and was also advertised by other social media accounts.

The bystander’s report of teens throwing snow off a comfort station’s rooftop drew two cops, who were greeted by a pelting of snowballs, the sources said.

Viral video showed two cops responding to the snow-commotion get repeatedly bombarded by powder. They can be seen shoving troublemakers into the snow, while the crowd continuously lobs clumps of flakes.

The cops called for backup, drawing multiple officers in vans, sources said. Those cops, too, had snowballs thrown at them.

One officer suffered a possible contusion behind his eye, while another had a headache from getting hit in the back of the head, a law enforcement source said.

The pained pair of police officers were treated at a hospital, but not admitted, the source said.

Mamdani’s critics – including former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and ex-Mayor Eric Adams – quickly blamed him for the snowball brouhaha, arguing his past anti-cop rhetoric emboldened the brazen ball belters.

Gov. Kathy Hochul chimed in before Mamdani’s City Hall, issuing a brief statement after footage of the snowball saga started going viral.

“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,” she wrote.

Police unions went further, calling for the snow brawlers to face assault charges.

“What we saw in Washington Square Park today was not harmless fun — it was a deliberate, outrageous, and dangerous attack on uniformed police officers,” the Detectives’ Endowment Association posted on X.

“No free pass. No get out of jail free card.”

Tisch likewise promised consequences.

“I want to be very clear: The behavior depicted is disgraceful, and it is criminal. Our detectives are investigating this matter,” she posted on X.

The NYPD on Tuesday evening released surveillance images of two men, identified as being approximately 18 to 20 years old, wanted for “intentionally” striking “the police officers multiple times with snow and ice in the head, neck, and face causing injuries.”

Hizzoner, when he finally addressed the snowy mess, disagreed.

The mayor first posted about the incident on X Tuesday and urged New Yorkers to treat cops with respect.

He then talked about it during the news conference, where he dismissed calls by police unions – and his own commissioner – to pursue criminal charges.

“It looks like a snowball fight,” he said.

Mamdani also repeatedly said the culprits were “kids,” despite footage appearing to show adults.

“I can just tell you from the video I saw, it looked like kids in a snowball fight,” he said.

The outrage over the snowy tempest itself drew a backlash, with many rolling their eyes at the breathless claims that cops were in danger.

“Is calling them snowflakes too on the nose,” one X user asked.

“Quick question — has everyone lost their g—— minds? They were snowballs,” pollster Adam Carlson posted on X.

“Lmao everyone knows the coddled kid running home to mom crying when the snowball fight didn’t go their way,” another X user posted.

“New York’s Softest,” yet another jibed.