Little Palestine Way Celebration Continues Despite Sign Delay

The atmosphere at the Walgreens parking lot was euphoric. Hundreds gathered to enjoy food and music. The Palestine Youth Ensemble played Mawtini, a well-known unofficial Palestinian anthem. Palestinian flags flew high as attendees celebrated the new “Little Palestine Way” street sign in Bridgeview. This event recognized the impact of Palestinian Americans in the southwest suburb.

In recent years, Harlem Avenue has become a center for Palestinian businesses and culture. Bridgeview has long been the community’s cultural and economic hub. However, there was a snag. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) did not install the new street sign by the July 11 event. Despite spending over $13,000 on the celebration, the festivities proceeded.

“One thing about us is that we’re used to every obstacle coming at us, especially when it comes to Palestine,” said Jinan Chehade, an event organizer. “It motivates us and brings the community even closer together.”

Sabha Abour, a community organizer involved in securing the sign, reported that less than two days before the event, IDOT stated the sign installation would be delayed due to scheduling issues with local officials. IDOT’s spokesperson later confirmed the delay to the Tribune.

Abour called the situation “a bureaucratic overreach.” She explained, “IDOT never informed us about coordinating with legislators. To hear this less than 24 hours before meant they had to attend is unheard of.”

On July 11, 2026, a crowd gathered at 87th Street and South Harlem Avenue. Despite the absence of the official IDOT sign, the village of Bridgeview installed a temporary sign. They also created an honorary sign for Wadea Al-Fayoume, a boy who died in 2023.

The Chicago area hosts the largest Palestinian American community in the U.S., with over 85,000 individuals of Palestinian descent, prompting efforts to acknowledge their contributions. In October 2025, state Representative Lisa Davis proposed a resolution to name Harlem Avenue from 79th to 111th Street “Little Palestine Way.” It received bipartisan backing and became official on June 1, with state Senate support from Senator Willie Preston.

Scheduling conflicts fall outside IDOT’s usual responsibilities, per Davis, who joined the July 11 celebration. She remarked, “IDOT’s role is creating and installing signs. Coordinating schedules now puzzles me.” Preston did not clarify his absence from the original date but expressed enthusiasm about future events.

“I appreciate the Illinois Department of Transportation’s continued partnership to ensure this milestone is celebrated,” Preston stated.

Currently, there are no plans to celebrate the official sign installation in Bridgeview. No timeline exists for when that might occur. Chehade added, “We decide when to celebrate and when our community can gather.”