Snowballs Thrown at Police During Snowball Fight... Debate Grows in New York City

"Respect for the police has weakened"

The police have launched an investigation after citizens threw snowballs at responding police officers in Washington Square Park in New York City.

According to the Associated Press and other outlets on the 24th (local time), the New York City Police Department is investigating those involved in the incident in which police officers were hit by snowballs in the park.

Earlier, Sidetalk, a social media content production company, posted a message saying it would hold a snowball fight event in the park at around 3 p.m. the previous day. A large crowd gathered to attend the event, and when the police arrived on the scene, some participants began throwing snowballs at the officers as well.

In a video capturing the scene, snowballs can be seen flying from all directions toward two police officers walking along a park path. Some participants threw snowballs at the officers' heads, and the officers kept trying to dodge the snowballs being hurled at them. Toward the end of the video, one of the officers is seen rubbing his eyes.

Police officers being hit by snowballs thrown by citizens. X

The New York Police Department (NYPD) said in a statement that several officers were hit in the face by snowballs and were transported by paramedics to a nearby hospital. However, it did not disclose the specific extent of their injuries.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said on her X account (X, formerly Twitter), "The behavior in the video is insulting and constitutes a crime," adding, "We are currently investigating this matter."

Some city council members criticized the disturbance, saying that "respect for the police has weakened." Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, also posted on X, saying, "Police officers, like all city employees, have been working hard to ensure public safety and keep traffic moving during this historic snowstorm," and adding, "Please show them respect. If someone has to be hit by a snowball, throw it at me."

However, when asked at a press conference that day whether criminal charges were necessary, Mayor Mamdani replied, "The video I saw just looked like a snowball fight." In response, the New York City police union strongly criticized the mayor's stance, saying, "This is not a simple snowball fight but an assault."