NYPD officers were attacked. Their mayor made a joke about it and downplayed the attacks.
NFL reporter Ed Werder bowed up and ripped Mamdani, even asking how any officer could stand by his side to protect him.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident in New York City or around the country.
This was not a snowball fight, as some were trying to equate it to, but an attack that wound up leaving some officers with facial lacerations.
Rather than calling for arrests or at least expressing some outrage, Mamdani responded, "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."
Sadly, he was not alone, as Columbia University professor Anthony Zenkus took the bad joke to a new level, posting, “BREAKING: One of the NYPD officers hit with a snowball in the melee in NYC yesterday has succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 1 pm this afternoon.” Was that supposed to be funny?
He then added, “The snowman that he built with his two children — now fatherless — still stands on the lawn of his Levittown, Long Island home. Please pray for his family.” Just sickening. I would like to say more about it, but I have a feeling the internet censors would have a field day with my thoughts.
Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA) president Vincent Vallelong was not amused, stating, "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."
Then Werder said the quiet part out loud, posting, "How anyone who wears a badge stands beside this mayor, much less risks their life for him, is beyond me.”
This was a real opportunity for Mamdani to move the needle on the perception regarding what he thinks of police. Rather than move it into the green, it is now firmly entrenched in the red.
I have stated many times that when you belittle this behavior or present no consequences, it steamrolls, which is why I do not think it is a coincidence between what we are seeing against ICE, the NYPD, and now officers in Montgomery County, Maryland.
At 12:39 a.m. on February 22, 2026, a group of drivers took over an intersection, with local police being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of cars that descended on the area. While no officers were injured, windows were smashed out of several vehicles, and the dashcam video is disturbing, to say the least.
Maryland State Police were called in to assist the officers and disperse the crowd.
Governor Wes Moore has been quick to call out ICE, so why have we not heard a statement about these attacks against police officers? As Werder noted about Mamdani, I have no idea how any law enforcement officer can stand by Moore with a straight face when they are serving on his protection detail. This has to be infuriating.
