New Jersey Resident Files Civil Rights Lawsuit After Being Blocked by Mayor on Facebook
After being barred from a public Facebook site intended for community conversations, a New Jersey resident filed a lawsuit against the local mayor, claiming that his constitutional rights had been infringed. Whether an elected official’s social media account can be regarded as a public forum where people have the freedom to voice differing ideas is at the heart of the Bergen County lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims that Park Ridge resident Howard Fredrics, 63, actively participated in posts made on Montvale Mayor Michael Ghassali’s Facebook page. Fredrics took part in conversations about municipal government and more general public issues over a period of many months. His remarks frequently contested claims made on the page and questioned the mayor’s ability to make particular decisions.
According to the lawsuit, Fredrics started using the page in December 2024 and kept doing so until March 12, 2025, when he realized he could no longer access it. He says he was unexpectedly barred, making it impossible for him to see posts or participate in conversations.
The disagreement seems to be the result of several conversations between Fredrics and the mayor. In one case, Fredrics questioned whether a municipal official had the jurisdiction to declare Montvale a “No Fly Zone for Drones.” In a different conversation, he addressed a post regarding the raising and lowering of the American flag during a time of national mourning, contending that these choices are usually decided at the federal or state level.
A January tweet by the mayor that included facts and commentary on immigration is also highlighted in the lawsuit. According to reports, Fredrics questioned the data’ correctness and interpretation in the comments area.
When Fredrics approached a municipal official after being blocked, he was allegedly informed that the Facebook page was not officially run by the borough but rather belonged to the mayor. However, Fredrics contends in his case that because the page is used to interact with locals and disseminate information about the government, it serves as a public forum.
According to the complaint, the decision to prohibit him was made because of his opinions, while other individuals who supported the mayor were still able to access and engage without restriction. According to Fredrics, this selective restriction amounts to First Amendment-prohibited viewpoint discrimination.
In addition, the lawsuit claims that the blocking violated the New Jersey Civil Rights Act by depriving him of his right to free speech in an area that functions as a virtual public forum. Fredrics is requesting that the court grant him access to the Facebook page again in addition to compensating him for emotional suffering.
Mayor Ghassali has declined to comment on the topic, stating that he has not yet received the lawsuit. The municipal administration of Montvale has not yet responded formally.
This case is part of an expanding legal discussion in the US about the use of social media by public officials and whether or not these platforms should be accessible to all opinions when used for official communication. Increasingly, courts have looked at whether prohibiting users from these kinds of accounts goes too far and violates the constitution.
As the case progresses, it might further elucidate the limits between elected officials’ personal and official use of social media and the degree of protection afforded to citizens participating in online political discourse.
