New York has been experiencing a harsh winter, and while heavy snowfall can create significant disruptions, it also encourages events like spontaneous snowball fights. When officers responded to reports of a large snowball fight in Washington Square Park, New York, they were struck with snowballs by participants, prompting backlash online.
In a viral video, NYPD officers arrive at the park during a huge snowball fight. At first, one officer appears to be smiling before being hit by several snowballs thrown from different directions. The mood quickly shifts as officers grow more agitated and are seen aggressively pushing members of the crowd. They continue moving through the park while snowballs keep flying, seemingly unable to avoid becoming the new main targets.
By the end of the video, one of the officers appears to be holding his eye, possibly after being hit by a snowball. Meanwhile, people continue throwing snowballs, recording the scene, and laughing. According to the New York Post, however, no injuries were reported on either side during the snowball fight.
New York Snowball Fight Divides People Online
While the participants in the snowball fight seemed to find it hilarious, the reaction to the incident was anything but humorous. On X, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the police are investigating the incident and called the behavior “disgraceful and criminal.”
Many online viewers also expressed outrage over the incident. Some defended the officers, arguing that “our heroes are treated like villains,” while others added that “I lived there for 10 years and the NYPD are among the country’s finest.”
Others were quick to blame recently elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani for the incident, writing, “This is what happens when an anti-police mayor takes over a city.” However, there is no indication that the snowball fight had any political motivation.
While most people online defended the police’s actions and criticized the individuals participating in the snowball fight, a few others were not sorry for the officers. One social media user said, “Imagine walking into a snowball fight and expecting to be exempt,” and some people suggested that they should have joined the fun instead.
