Harmless Fun or Crime? NYC Snowball Fight Under Investigation

A snowball fight following a major winter storm in New York City has sparked a political debate after several police officers were hit with snow and ice in Washington Square Park.

Videos shared widely on social media showed officers responding to a large crowd gathered during the snow day and being pelted with snowballs as the situation escalated.

New York police said multiple officers suffered facial injuries and were taken to hospital in stable condition, with authorities launching a criminal investigation into the incident. Police leadership and union representatives described the confrontation as an attack on uniformed officers and called for those responsible to be identified and prosecuted.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani offered a more restrained characterization, saying he saw videos of kids throwing snowballs and urging residents to treat city workers with respect.

The differing responses quickly drew political attention, with critics arguing the mayor’s past comments about policing contributed to a climate of disrespect, while others cautioned against overstating the incident.