Over 5,000 people gathered in Paterson, New Jersey on May 15, Sunday, as they celebrated the renaming of a busy section of Main Street to Palestine Way.

The Paterson City Council had announced this decision back in April in honor of the contributions made by Palestinian-Americans to the city's civic and economic life.

The celebration on Sunday saw dabke performances, live singers and vendors selling traditional Palestinian thobes.

City mayor Andre Sayegh said during the celebration, “Palestinians are making countless contributions to our communities everyday in the United States of America.”

“History is happening here, when we finally unveil not Palestine Street, not Palestine Boulevard, but Palestine Way, because Palestinians always find a way.”

"Palestinians are proud Americans," said Sayegh. "Palestinians are productive Americans. Palestinians are making countless contributions to our communities every day in the United States of America."

The city's first Palestinian-American councilman, Alaa Abdelaziz, said, “This allows us to always remember the Palestinian struggles overseas. It's a celebration, but it's also showing that Palestinians are humans, we're Americans, and we will never forget where we came from.”

South Paterson is often referred to by the large Palestinian community as “Little Ramallah.”