New York City Police officers were pelted with snowballs, some were injured, and it was treated like a joke by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
He characterized it as nothing more than a “snowball fight,” and that did not sit well with the NYPD.
Now, an arrest has been made, pitting the new mayor against his police department less than two months after taking office.
As videos of the “attack” were spreading around the internet, Mamdani decided to downplay it and crack a bad joke.
He stated, "From the videos that I've seen, it looked like kids at a snowball fight.”
He continued, "Officers, like all city workers, have been out in a historic blizzard, keeping New Yorkers safe and cars moving. Treat them with respect. If anyone's catching a snowball, it's me."
He must have seen videos far different from the ones I saw, with officers surrounded by aggressive New Yorkers, hit with hard-thrown snowballs, pelted in the face, and jeered as though they were doing the walk of shame during Roman times.
Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) president Vincent Vallelong did not see things the same way as the young mayor, and he unloaded after Mamdani made his comments.
He stated, "We cannot condemn strongly enough the recent disgraceful and dangerous attacks on NYPD Police Officers while responding to a 911 call in Washington Square Park.”
He continued, "The behavior of the people throwing the snowballs, many of whom are believed to be NYU students, was reckless and unlawful, and put the lives and safety of others at risk."
NFL journalist Ed Warder also called out the mayor, posting, "How anyone who wears a badge stands beside this mayor, much less risks their life for him, is beyond me.”
The NYPD has gone against Mamdani’s wishes and has taken at least one person into custody on charges related to the “snowball fight.”
Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, was arrested on Thursday morning, and there could be more to come, as the department has numerous photos circulating.
Mamdani was wrong in how he approached this, as any assault against officers has to be taken seriously and dealt with in the same manner. As I noted in yesterday’s report, if you don’t act swiftly and harshly, you are only inviting more of the same.
I think it is safe to say that the honeymoon phase, if there ever was one, between Mamdani and the NYPD, is over.
