A large crowd gathered in Washington Square Park on Monday afternoon for a planned snowball fight after the weekend blizzard. What started as fun got out of control. As reported by The New York Post, around 4pm, hundreds of people were in the park throwing snowballs at each other. Some also began throwing them toward the street and at passing cars. Police were called to the park shortly after 4 p.m. following reports of disorderly conduct.

When officers arrived, they found a huge group engaged in what witnesses described as chaos. Snowballs were flying in every direction. “The New York City blizzard snowball fight has happened. It was complete pandemonium,” said a man who showed up for the fight to NYP.

Officers hit with snowballs

At one point, people in the crowd were seen throwing snowballs at an NYPD vehicle as officers got inside and drove away along a street next to the park in Greenwich Village. Video shared on social media shows officers being repeatedly hit with snowballs near the Washington Square Park office and restrooms. Dozens of people stood nearby, filming and shouting at the police.

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According to an NYPD spokesperson, officers were responding to a 911 call about disorderly conduct around 4:13 p.m. Two officers suffered facial injuries and were taken to Northwell Greenwich Village Hospital for treatment. The snowball fight happened after a major snowstorm that dropped nearly 20 inches of snow in Central Park from Sunday into Monday.

Police unions call for arrests

Police unions are now demanding that those responsible be identified and charged. “The Detectives’ Endowment Association is calling on Mayor Mamdani and District Attorney (Alvin) Bragg to ensure every individual responsible for this illegal behavior is prosecuted. No free pass. No get out of jail free card,” DEA President Scott Munro stated in a public statement.

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The Police Benevolent Association also issued a statement on X calling for assault charges. “Our police officers are being treated for their injuries, but the case CANNOT end there,” read the PBA’s statement on X. “The individuals involved must be identified, arrested and charged with assault on a police officer.”

Netizens react

Netizens reacted to the situation on social media. A user noted, “What a shameful thing to happen.” Another added, “m so ashamed to call myself a former New Yorker. But at least I’m a former New Yorker” “And those same people throwing are the ones that will complain about the lack of police enforcement of criminal behaviors,” claimed another. “Why they didn’t jail em all?,” questioned a user.