NEW JERSEY – Paterson, New Jersey, is undergoing a rapid transformation, with local leaders emphasizing Islamic identity and Palestinian nationalism, sparking concerns among critics about the city’s shift away from its historical roots.
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The recent Hilal Lighting Ceremony, a city-endorsed event marking Ramadan, is seen as more than a religious celebration, but a political rally for Palestinian nationalism. The ceremony took place in “Little Palestine,” an area of the city now officially renamed Palestine Way in 2022.
Paterson, home to a growing Palestinian population, has seen its streets lined with Palestinian flags and Arabic signage. This cultural shift, led by Muslim elected officials, has led some to question if the city is evolving into an Islamic stronghold.
Horrifying, the mayor of Paterson, NJ declares that it is not an American city, it is a Palestinian city.
“Paterson is the capital of Palestine in the United States of America.”
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) March 9, 2025
Muslim politicians, including Mayor Andre Sayegh, Councilmen Shahin Khalique, MD Forid Uddin, and Ibrahim Omar, as well as Deputy Mayor Raed Odeah, are at the forefront of this shift. The officials have championed policies catering to Islamic interests, such as halal food in public schools, school closures for Eid, and the broadcasting of the Adhan (Islamic call to prayer).
During the Hilal Lighting Ceremony, Mayor Sayegh declared Paterson “the capital of Palestine in the United States,” and referred to it as the “fourth holiest city in the world” after Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina. These statements, along with efforts to prioritize Islamic practices in the city, have raised concerns about the future direction of Paterson.
The event was supported by several organizations with strong pro-Palestinian ties, including the Palestinian American Community Center (PACC) and the Islamic Center of Passaic County (ICPC), both of which have been accused of promoting radical pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel rhetoric.
The political shift in Paterson has led to questions about the role of Islamic influence in American cities and the line between cultural representation and political activism. Critics argue that the city’s transformation into an Islamic and Palestinian enclave could undermine the values that have traditionally defined Paterson.
As Paterson continues to evolve, the city’s identity remains a contentious issue, with Muslim leaders asserting their political and religious influence and others raising concerns about the implications for the broader community.
Which is why Trump needs to revoke the green cards of every foreign born Muslim terror supporter, and ship ’em back to whichever G-dforsaken nightnare they came from. If they want to see their kids, they can take them along with them.
And democrats Cory Booker & Andy Kim celebrate along with Hamas terrorists. For shame.
Lou Costello is turning over in his grave.
In that case , they should be held fir treason and all deported
Talk about dual loyalty
and I thought Patterson was the capital of muslin terrorist in America ,go figure
Mixed bag of Pakistani hadjis, Turks, Levantines, North Africans etc. Seeing 1, maybe 2 actual Arabs who will claim Pal status
good let them all move there and leave Israel alone (wondering how the yeshiva deals with all that)
free patterson
Ban islam, the DREKK of the world………….
please don’t tell me that mohammed rode his magical horse to new jersey, too? because that’s the fairy tale that they use to stake a claim on “islamic land”!
Isn’t there a yeshiva in
Patterson
Paterstine
Time to demolish Paterson
Paterson the Hamas capital
Is nearby Fair Lawn next? Chas vShalom. We need to be ready to make Aliya in a hurry.
I was in Paterson a few years ago. There is a nice park with a lagoon. Then, the Arabs there were OK, no problems with my hat and tzizis sticking out.
BUT times have changed. It won’t be the place for me to visit next time in the states.
Let them have it. I’ll take Cedar Lane anytime.
The yeshiva is in trouble
Andre Sayegh is a Christian Arab
Free, free, Paterson.
This is America, not Gaza or Syria or Iran. This is Jihad taking over America, which is a Judeo Christian country. Noone wants to hear the Islamic call to prayer. You don’t see Christians or Jews praying in the streets, stopping traffic. Christians pray in churches and Jews pray in Temples or Synagogues. Hindus and Budhist pray in their temples and not in the street stopping pedestrians and traffic. . America welcomed these Jihadists 30 years again. Some were brought here later by Obama and Biden on planes that landed in the dark of night. Their Imams told them to wage Jihad for their Caliphate. This is America! They can practice Islam or any religion they want, but they are not allowed to impose Islam on the rest of the country. This is what they intend to do, and we won’t allow it in America. Go visit London, Paris, cities in Germany, Sweden, go visit Amsterdam, Madrid. . . .These are cities flooded by Islamists , millions of them, after all ther are over two billion Muslims in the world. One Muslim man can have 4 wives and 20 kids. Just give them one generation and there will be tens of thousands of mosques all over our country, No Go Zones with Sharia Law and Islamic prayers in your public schools. The Muslims can have it all in 22 countries in the Middle East, in Africa, but not in Paterson, N. J. or Michigan or Minnesota, or NY, . . . not in this Judeo Christian country. This is America, not an Islamic Caliphate. Jihad is the 6th principal of Islam and the Islamists have done very well in this department.
what happened to the seperation of church and state
Perfect! Let the Gazans move there!
So this is their Lakewood.
Like KJ!
As Jews living in the U. S., we should work with them on issues we can agree on, like providing kosher food,
Boro Park, Flatbush, Willi, Crown Heights, Lakewood, Deal, Passaic, etc….. Ok, let them have Paterson. Never even heard of it before tonight.