The Ritz Carlton Central Park review: Security racial profiling me a paying customer

My name is Johnathan Mojica.. I’ve came to the Ritz Carlton that’s located 59st and 6ave on Sunday September 9, 2018 the time was anywhere from 10:30am-11:00am where a incident took place as I was entering the building.

I was followed and harassed by security who’s name is Monday he followed me to the elevator. As I stepped into the elevator that’s when Monday came to the elevator held it open asked me what was I doing?

I informed him in a polite way that I was going to the restroom. His response was “you don’t belong here” in front of three other folks that entered the building at the same time with me and walk to the elevators where I was singled out.

My response was “do you hear what your saying right now” Monday replied again “ you don’t belong in this building “ and “ you have no business in this building “ that’s when I told him my wife works in this building and he asked me who’s your wife? That’s when i just walked off

I felt like I was being profiled as I entered into the building. This is not the first time he was standing in front of the building and followed me inside this time it was verbally. I was told that I don’t belong in this building and that I couldn’t used the restroom. I then walked out of the elevator because he held it open did not allow the elevator to close, so I walk to the restaurant to go downstairs to the bathroom instead.

I was then approached by another security officer name Alberto that informed me if I was to make a complaint due to the fact that my wife is a coworker at the Ritz Carlton that it will come back and be bad for her if I follow through with my complaint. He tried to explain that they have a certain protocol who they should approach, I told him that makes no sense. Alberto told me he’s a supervisor which i was informed by Ousman T. Jawara that Alberto was not a supervisor. Alberto explained too me that Monday had all the rights to stop me because they have a certain protocol on who should be stopped before entering the building. I explained to Ousman... what gave him the purpose or reason to stop me? is it my braids? is it the way that I’m dressed? I explained to him I clearly did not violate any hotel policies I wasn’t being a nuisance, I wasn’t being belligerent, ignorant or anything like that. He gave me nor response

At this point I informed the security guard: did I do anything wrong? did I commit a crime? he replied no so I told him there’s no reason for me to be denied using the restroom.

I did not reserve a seat at the restaurant before using the bathroom... I figured use the restroom first then, I can go upstairs and reserve a seat as I have lunch and wait for my wife to get off work.

The bar and restaurant to my knowledge is open to the public there was no reason whatsoever for me to be stopped and harassed by security .

I took some time to write this letter because I was really hurt and embarrassed with the situation that happened in September 2018. Altho it took a while to make my complaint I was told by Ousman to make the complaint ,he was also the one who gave me all the names and information I needed.

Since then I also reported this and started a case with the Enforcement Bureau

New York City Commission on Human Rights and nothing was done about this to today.