The Walgreens parking lot turned into a lively festival space with hundreds of people gathering for food and music. Members of the Palestine Youth Ensemble played “Mawtini,” a well-known unofficial anthem of Palestine. Palestinian flags filled the air as people came together in Bridgeview to celebrate the new “Little Palestine Way” honorary street sign. This event recognized the contributions of Palestinian Americans in this southwest suburb.
Harlem Avenue has evolved into a center for Palestinian business and tradition. Bridgeview has been the cultural and economic hub for this community for decades. Despite the enthusiasm, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) did not install the new street sign in time for the July 11 party. With more than $13,000 already invested in the celebration, the event proceeded as planned.
Event organizer Jinan Chehade stated, “We’re used to obstacles, especially with issues related to Palestine, and we don’t let them stop us. It actually motivates us and strengthens our community bonds.”
Sabha Abour, who played a key role in obtaining the sign, noted that less than 48 hours before the event, IDOT officials informed her the sign would not be installed due to scheduling conflicts with local lawmakers. IDOT confirmed this delay to the Tribune, leading Abour to describe the situation as “a bureaucratic overreach.”
“IDOT never told us we had to coordinate with legislators,” Abour said. “For them to inform us last minute that all legislators had to be present was unprecedented.”
On July 11, 2026, a crowd gathered at 87th Street and South Harlem Avenue to celebrate the new signs, including one dedicated to Wadea Al-Fayoume, a boy killed in 2023. In the absence of IDOT’s sign, Bridgeview installed a temporary version at the intersection. It remains unclear how long this temporary sign will stay, as Bridgeview officials, including Mayor Steven Landek, did not comment.
The Chicago area has the highest concentration of Palestinian Americans in the U.S., with over 85,000 residents of Palestinian descent. In October 2025, state Rep. Lisa Davis proposed designating a portion of Harlem Avenue as “Little Palestine Way.” The proposal received bipartisan support, and the nickname became official on June 1.
Davis commented, “It’s typical for IDOT to make and install signs, so their coordination now is puzzling.” Sen. Willie Preston, who supported the resolution, expressed his anticipation for upcoming celebratory events.
Chehade confirmed there are no current plans for another celebration upon IDOT’s installation of the official sign. “We are not at the mercy of whoever is telling us when to celebrate. We determine our own celebrations,” she said.