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The Priscilla Gardner Main Library, part of the Jersey City Free Public Library (via jclibrary.org)
A Puerto Rican nonprofit in Jersey City has filed a civil rights complaint with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, alleging that the city’s public library system discriminated against the organization by banning its executive director from all library branches for one year.
The complaint, filed on November 11 by the Boricua Community Building Center (BCBC) and the organization’s executive director, Rev. Raymond Ángel Guzmán-Caraballo, alleges that the Jersey City Free Public Library repeatedly blocked or canceled Puerto Rican–led programming, then issued the ban after concerns about discrimination were raised.
Guzmán-Caraballo provided The Latino Newsletter with a copy of the filing, which asks state officials to investigate whether the library’s actions violated New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination. A formal review of the complaint is expected to begin in early January.
“I filed the complaint after recognizing a clear pattern of exclusion and exhausting every effort to engage in dialogue. I was not looking for conflict, nor did I anticipate their reaction to the complaint by banning me. I wanted a conversation about how we could work together, but there was no real avenue for conversation,” Guzmán-Caraballo told The Latino Newsletter.
The ban came two days before the Jersey City Council voted to recognize November as Puerto Rican Heritage Month, a resolution that Guzmán-Caraballo openly supported, according to the complaint.
Jersey City has the state’s second-largest Puerto Rican population. Over 23,000 people — or 8.25 percent of the city’s population — are of Puerto Rican descent.
“Decisions were made unilaterally, without transparency, and without consideration for fairness or equality under the law. Our programs have been successful, community-centered, and impactful. To deny access repeatedly, and then respond with exclusion rather than conversation, goes beyond discrimination and reflects a disregard for the value of our work and the community it serves,” Guzmán-Caraballo added.
BCBC spent more than two years seeking to partner with the library on cultural and educational programming focused on Puerto Rican heritage, according to the complaint and email correspondence reviewed by The Latino Newsletter. After multiple proposals and space requests went unanswered or were declined, the library approved a collaboration for a November event honoring Puerto Rican activist Lolita Lebrón. That program was later canceled after the library cited budget constraints, despite BCBC's claim that it had offered to cover all costs, per the complaint. Days after raising concerns, the organization’s executive director received a notice about the one-year ban.
The library's justification for the ban was because of “abusive language on social media and voicemail,” according to the complaint filed by Guzmán-Caraballo, who claims there is no evidence about that.
In an appeal and follow-up email sent to library officials following the ban, Guzmán-Caraballo asked the library to suspend the decision and provide documentation supporting the action, including any policies or evidence cited. A library administrator later confirmed in writing that the ban would remain in effect through November 2026.
“After review, the decision to issue a one-year ban from all Jersey City Free Public Library locations remains in effect. The circumstances leading to the ban were evaluated carefully, and at this time, the ban is confirmed. As stated in the original notice, you are banned from all library branches, and it will be considered trespassing if you are found on any library property before November 10, 2026,” Kate Davis, Jersey City Free Public Library Assistant Director, wrote in a December 4 email seen by The Latino Newsletter.
Over the last few weeks, the BCBC has posted updates on its Instagram page.
The Latino Newsletter contacted library leadership multiple times seeking comment on the ban and the civil rights complaint. As of publication, library officials had not responded to those emails.
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Julio Ricardo Varela is the founder of The Latino Newsletter. He is also its current part-time publisher and executive director.
Carlos Berríos Polanco edited and published this edition of The Latino Newsletter.
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