Incident In Washington Square Park
NFL reporter Ed Werder criticized Mayor Zoran Mamdani of New York City on Tuesday after the mayor remarked about a snowball being thrown at an NYPD officer.
Video footage circulating on social media shows officers being punched while they were in Washington Square Park. An NYPD spokesperson mentioned that the officers were responding to reports of a large disorderly group in the area. One officer sustained several cuts to his face.
Mamdani seemed to be minimizing the severity of the situation. A former ESPN reporter took to social media, questioning how any officer could stand by Mamdani or put their life on the line for him.
In response to criticisms, Werder pointed out that he has consistently praised law enforcement. He emphasized that “it doesn’t matter where you live; it’s wrong to treat police with such disrespect.”
Mamdani had earlier posted on social media about witnessing a video where an officer was targeted with snowballs. He highlighted the efforts of city employees during the ongoing snowstorm, stating, “Treat them with respect. If anyone’s grabbing a snowball, it’s me.”
As it stands, no arrests have been made related to this incident. The Sergeants’ Benevolent Association expressed their disapproval, stating that some may label the event as mere “college hijinks” or harmless fun, but targeting police officers doing their jobs counts as assault.
SBA President Vincent Vallelong articulated strong condemnation of the “shameful and dangerous attack” on an officer attending to a 911 call. He added that the actions of those throwing snowballs, reportedly NYU students, were reckless and posed a risk to public safety.
Vallelong also warned that those responsible for throwing snow and ice at police officers would face serious consequences. “Clear boundaries,” he stated.
