WASHINGTON (TNND) \u2014 Knicks fans clashed with New York Police Department officers despite New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s warning against violence.<\/p>\n
Outside Bryant Park\u2019s Game 3 of the NBA Finals watch party on Monday night, Knicks fans had run-ins with police, including throwing bottles at them, the New York Post reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n As brawls broke out, police officers in riot gear rushed to control the crowd, using pepper spray.<\/p>\n Fans vaulted onto parked cars while chanting \u201cWe want Wemby!\u201d One person set fire to a Spurs t-shirt, and a mob chased a San Antonio fan across the street.<\/p>\n The fans, who appeared to be mostly young people, also knocked down a metal bus sign and broke off large tree branches.<\/p>\n Some youths shook a bus sign off a pole near Bryant Park, according to video obtained by Freedom News<\/a>.<\/p>\n Another video showed the sign being used as a weapon during a brawl on 42nd Street. One person was seen smashing the sign on people’s heads.<\/p>\n Police rushed to break up fans who were punching and kicking people.<\/p>\n \u201cBack up,\u201d one officer shouted repeatedly before several of the people were detained.<\/p>\n Some youths also climbed NYPD barricade trucks and chanted \u201csuck my d***,\u201d according to video<\/a> from Freedom News.<\/p>\n Fans surrounded taxis, hitting windshields with toy lightsabers as police tried to disperse crowds on 42nd Street.<\/p>\n NYPD said that 21 people were taken into custody during the brawl. In total, eight were arrested and charged, and 13 were released with criminal court summonses.<\/p>\n The riot came after Mamdani said on Saturday that violence against police would not be tolerated, after an officer was assaulted Friday night.<\/p>\n “The assault on an NYPD officer outside Madison Square Garden last night was unacceptable,” Mamdani posted on X on Saturday. “New Yorkers are rightfully excited about the Knicks’ historic Finals run, and we want fans to celebrate this moment together. There is, however, no place for violence, and no tolerance for attacks on police officers.<\/p>\n “Thank you to the officers who worked to keep fans safe throughout the night, and we wish the injured officer a speedy recovery,” he continued. “The overwhelming majority of New Yorkers celebrated responsibly, and I urge everyone to continue doing so as the Finals return to New York.”<\/p>\n After the Knicks’ game Friday night, the NYPD said that 17 people were arrested and charged outside of the watch party at Madison Square Garden as fans refused orders to leave the area and climbed on light poles, The Comeback reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n