A winter altercation in Washington Square Park has sparked a political storm in New York City after Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani accused the New York Police Department of overreach during what began as a light-hearted snowball exchange.

The episode, quickly dubbed “Snowball-Gate” on social media, unfolded when a small group gathered in the park following a snowfall.

Video circulating online shows snowballs thrown in the vicinity of police officers before officers move in to disperse the crowd.

Mamdani, who was present, later said officers escalated the situation unnecessarily and questioned the proportionality of the response.

Police officials have maintained that officers intervened after objects were thrown directly at uniformed personnel, describing the action as necessary to prevent disorder and ensure public safety.

They emphasised that no serious injuries were reported and that the response was measured in line with department policy.

Mamdani publicly criticised the department, arguing that heavy-handed tactics erode community trust and risk criminalising minor conduct.

He called for clarity on the department’s use-of-force standards and crowd management protocols.

The lawmaker framed the incident as part of a broader debate over policing and civil liberties in public spaces.

The NYPD rejected suggestions of misconduct and defended officers’ conduct, stating that maintaining order in crowded parks remains a core responsibility.

City officials have not indicated that any internal investigation is underway, though the department said it routinely reviews body-camera footage in incidents that attract public attention.

The confrontation has revived wider discussion about protest rights, public assembly and law enforcement discretion in New York City.

While the immediate clash involved snowballs rather than organised protest, it has become a flashpoint in the city’s ongoing political debate over policing practices.

As winter conditions continue and public spaces fill during seasonal gatherings, the incident underscores how even minor encounters can quickly escalate into high-profile disputes in a city where tensions over public safety and civil rights remain politically charged.