Additional Coverage:
- Man arrested for ‘assaulting’ NYPD in Washington Square Park snowball fight after Mamdani backlash (themirror.com)
Arrest Made in Washington Square Park Snowball Incident, Sparks Political Firestorm
New York City – A man has been arrested following a widely publicized incident in Washington Square Park where individuals allegedly pelted NYPD officers with snowballs and chunks of ice during Monday’s blizzard. The event has quickly escalated into a significant early test for Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration and his relationship with the city’s police force.
Gusmane Coulibaly, 27, was taken into custody on Thursday for “assaulting” officers, according to a statement released by the NYPD. Authorities also noted that Coulibaly had been arrested less than three weeks prior for an attempted robbery within the transit system.
The incident, which saw a large gathering in the iconic park turn hostile towards law enforcement, has drawn sharp criticism from Mayor Mamdani’s political opponents. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo and former Mayor Eric Adams, both within Mamdani’s own party, were quick to attribute the violence to what they described as the democratic socialist mayor’s past anti-police rhetoric.
On X, former Governor Cuomo condemned the events, stating, “This is disgraceful. But with a mayor who has a history of calling the police ‘racist, evil, wicked and corrupt,’ he set the tone.” Cuomo called on Mamdani to denounce the behavior and emphasized that “words have consequences,” drawing parallels to the rise in antisemitism.
Former Mayor Adams echoed these sentiments on X, expressing outrage: “Watching officers get pelted with snow while they are out in brutal weather protecting this city should make every New Yorker furious. It is disgusting behavior.”
He further criticized politicians who “constantly bash the police,” asserting that “leadership matters. Tone matters.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who was retained by Mayor Mamdani, addressed the incident Monday night, stating the force was “aware of certain videos taken earlier today in Washington Square Park showing individuals attacking cops.” Commissioner Tisch declared the behavior “disgraceful and criminal” and confirmed that detectives are investigating the matter.
Police unions have also demanded accountability. The Detectives’ Endowment Association President issued a statement on X, characterizing the park events as “not harmless fun – it was a deliberate, outrageous, and dangerous attack on uniformed police officers.” The association called on Mayor Mamdani and District Attorney Bragg to ensure that all individuals responsible are prosecuted, promising that detectives would identify and apprehend those involved.
As of the latest reports, Mayor Mamdani has yet to release a personal statement regarding the incident.