Celebration of ‘Little Palestine Way’ Despite Delays
The Walgreens parking lot transformed into a lively gathering space, where hundreds came together to enjoy food and music. Members of the Palestine Youth Ensemble performed ‘Mawtini,’ a well-known anthem of Palestine. Palestinian flags adorned the air. The community gathered in Bridgeview to celebrate the new ‘Little Palestine Way’ honorary street sign, which acknowledges the significant contributions of Palestinian Americans in the suburb.
Over recent years, Harlem Avenue evolved into a focal point for Palestinian culture and business. Bridgeview has long been a hub for the community. However, there was a setback. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) failed to install the new street sign on time for the celebration scheduled on July 11. Despite spending over $13,000 on the celebration, the event went ahead.
Jinan Chehade, one of the organizers, stated, “We’re accustomed to obstacles, especially regarding Palestine, and we don’t let that stop us. It motivates us and strengthens our community bonds.”
Sabha Abour, a community organizer responsible for acquiring the sign, was informed less than 48 hours before the event about the delay. IDOT officials cited scheduling conflicts with local lawmakers as the cause. A spokesperson from IDOT confirmed the delay. Abour criticized the delay as an example of “bureaucratic overreach.”
“IDOT never once told us that we had to coordinate with the legislators,” Abour said. “For them to tell us in the eleventh hour, less than 24 hours before the sign was meant to be installed, that we have to invite all the legislators, that they all have to be there, that’s unheard of.”
In response to the absence of the official sign, the village of Bridgeview provided a temporary sign at the intersection of 87th Street and South Harlem Avenue. This temporary sign was installed alongside an honorary sign memorializing Wadea Al-Fayoume, a boy who died in 2023. It remains unclear how long the temporary sign will remain, as Bridgeview officials did not comment.
The Chicago area hosts the largest concentration of Palestinian Americans in the U.S., with over 85,000 residents of Palestinian descent. Efforts to recognize their contributions led to the official designation of the area. In October 2025, Democratic state Rep. Lisa Davis introduced a resolution to name Harlem Avenue from 79th Street to 111th Street as ‘Little Palestine Way.’ It passed with bipartisan support, and the nickname became official on June 1, with additional support from Democratic Sen. Willie Preston.
Rep. Davis commented on the scheduling issues, saying, “It’s the bureaucratic norm for them to make the sign and install the sign. So the fact that they are trying to coordinate schedules now is baffling to me.” Preston did not clarify the reasons for the scheduling conflict but expressed anticipation for a future event to celebrate the community’s achievement.
Sabha Abour was photographed holding a ‘Little Palestine Way’ sign at the corner of Harlem Ave and 87th Street. She reiterated that officials attributed the delay to scheduling conflicts. Despite this, Rep. Davis attended the celebration.
Sen. Preston acknowledged IDOT’s ongoing partnership and stressed the importance of recognizing and celebrating this achievement. Chehade confirmed there are no immediate plans for a future celebration when IDOT installs the official sign in Bridgeview. Chehade emphasized that the community decides when and how they celebrate, valuing their autonomy and determination.