politics
March 19, 2026
'Criminal' or 'kids throwing snowballs'? How a viral snow fight provoked Mamdani’s schism with NYPD
Though two men were arrested for allegedly pelting officers with snow, the mayor waved off the incident
TL;DR
- A blizzard in New York triggered a large snowball fight in Washington Square Park, organized by Sidetalk.
- The event escalated from playful snow throwing to more aggressive actions, leading to police intervention.
- Multiple police officers were injured and hospitalized, prompting outrage from police unions and condemnation from city leaders.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani downplayed the incident, creating a political divide with the NYPD.
- Two men were arrested and charged with harassment and obstruction of government administration.
- The incident highlights the ongoing tension between the mayor's progressive reform agenda and the NYPD's stance on law enforcement.
- Mayor Mamdani's administration faces challenges in balancing public safety demands with his vision for police reform, including plans for a new civilian department of community safety.
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