Paterson Marks Eid with Citywide Celebrations as Bangladeshi American Eyes Historic Mayor's Race
Paterson's Muslim community took center stage this week, with Eid al-Fitr festivals filling South Paterson streets and a landmark prayer service at Hinchliffe Stadium marking the city's growing Islamic heritage. Against that backdrop of celebration, a Bangladeshi American council pioneer announced a historic mayoral run, even as a shooting injured a teenager in the early morning hours.
🪔 South Paterson Streets Come Alive for Eid al-Fitr Festival
City officials and residents gathered in South Paterson on a Friday to mark Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that signals the close of the Ramadan month of fasting, prayer, and reflection. The community festival brought together families for a day of cultural activities, food, and celebration that reflected the depth of Paterson's Muslim population. Mayor Andre Sayegh was among the civic leaders who joined the festivities, underscoring the city government's recognition of the holiday's importance. The event drew photographers and drew wide attention as one of the more visible public expressions of Islamic culture in the region. Paterson has long been home to a substantial South Asian and Middle Eastern Muslim population, and celebrations of this scale reflect how central the community has become to city life. The festival served as a reminder of the bonds that religious traditions can forge across Paterson's many ethnic communities. [1]
🎉 Eid Block Party Brings Prayer, Food, and Family to Paterson Neighborhoods
A neighborhood block party in Paterson offered another dimension of the Eid al-Fitr observance, weaving together communal prayer, festive food, and family gatherings in an outdoor setting that made the holiday accessible to the broader public. The event highlighted how Eid celebrations in Paterson have evolved beyond mosque walls into vibrant street-level expressions of faith and culture. Families dressed in their finest gathered to share traditional dishes and mark the occasion with a spirit of togetherness that is central to the holiday. The block party format allowed neighbors from diverse backgrounds to participate and witness the traditions firsthand. For Paterson's South Asian and Arab communities, such public celebrations carry particular meaning, reinforcing a sense of belonging in the city. The scene was reported by CBS News as an example of how one of the largest Palestinian and Muslim communities outside the Middle East lives and celebrates in New Jersey. [5]
🪔 Historic First: Muslim Eid Prayer Comes to Hinchliffe Stadium
Paterson made religious history when Mayor Andre Sayegh joined Council President Shahin Khalique, the Islamic Foundation of New Jersey, and members of the local Muslim community for the first-ever Eid Jamat held at the landmark Hinchliffe Stadium. The occasion marked Eid Al-Adha, known as the Feast of Sacrifice, which commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in an act of obedience to God and also marks the completion of the Hajj pilgrimage. Eid Al-Adha is considered the larger of Islam's two principal holidays and carries deep spiritual significance involving reflection, gratitude, and charitable acts. Hundreds of community members were expected to attend and join in communal prayer at the historic venue. The choice of Hinchliffe, a stadium with its own storied place in Paterson's heritage, added symbolic weight to an already meaningful occasion. The event stood as a testament to Paterson's pride in its religious diversity and its tradition of honoring the Muslim community's most important observances. [6]
'No Eid While Gaza Has No Eid': Paterson Protesters Voice Solidarity
As Eid celebrations unfolded across Paterson, anti-war protesters in the city took a different path, adopting the mantra 'No Eid while Gaza has no Eid' to express solidarity with Palestinians caught in the ongoing conflict. Paterson is home to one of the largest Palestinian communities outside the Middle East, and that connection gave the protest a particular resonance during the holiday period. Children placed rocks in a flag-shaped memorial to the thousands killed during months of war in Gaza, with the stones serving as a symbol of Palestinian resistance. Community members gathered to tell the stories of victims in Gaza, lending a solemn human dimension to the demonstration. The protests coincided with international pressure that Israel said had resulted in more aid trucks entering Gaza than on any previous day since the October 7 Hamas attack, which killed more than 1,100 Israeli citizens. For many in Paterson's Muslim and Arab communities, the holiday season could not be fully separated from the grief and urgency felt for those suffering far away. [3]
🗳️ Akhtaruzzaman Becomes First Bangladeshi American to Run for Paterson Mayor
Mohammed Akhtaruzzaman has entered the race for Paterson mayor, becoming the first Bangladeshi American in the city's history to seek that office. Akhtaruzzaman is no stranger to political firsts: in 2012 he became the first Bangladeshi American elected to the Paterson City Council, winning the 2nd Ward seat and signaling the emerging electoral strength of the city's Bangladeshi community. His path since that initial victory has been complicated, however, with losses in both 2016 and 2020 to fellow Bangladeshi American Shahin Khalique, a rivalry that has exposed deep divisions within the community. The 2020 campaign in particular was marked by street brawls between supporters of the two candidates, and Akhtaruzzaman has said he was physically assaulted during one of those incidents. Despite that turbulent history, his decision to run for mayor represents a significant escalation in ambition and a new chapter for South Asian political representation in Paterson. The race will test whether the Bangladeshi community can unite behind a single candidate and whether Akhtaruzzaman can expand his support beyond his traditional base. [2]
16-Year-Old Shot Overnight Near North 3rd and Temple Streets
A 16-year-old was struck by gunfire in the early morning hours in Paterson, according to a joint announcement from Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes and Paterson Police Department Officer in Charge Patrick Murray. Officers responded shortly before 1 a.m. to the area of North 3rd Street and Temple Street after reports of a shooting and found the juvenile victim in the roadway suffering from a gunshot wound that was not life-threatening. Police also identified a potential secondary crime scene in the vicinity. The investigation remains active and ongoing, authorities said. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office tip line at 1-877-370-PCPO, submit tips by email, or reach out to the Paterson Police Department directly. Anonymous reporting options are also available through an online portal. [4]
Pedestrian Injured After School Bus Collision in Paterson's 1st Ward
A female pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being struck by a school bus in Paterson's 1st Ward, according to police officials. The bus was transporting four students at the time of the collision, and none of the children aboard were reported injured. Police did not immediately disclose the age of the students or which school they attend. The circumstances leading to the collision were not detailed in the initial report, and no further information about the pedestrian's condition beyond her injuries being non-life-threatening was provided. The incident adds to ongoing concerns about pedestrian safety on Paterson's streets, particularly in areas with school-related traffic. Authorities have not indicated whether any citations or charges would follow from the investigation. [7]
🎬 Kennedy High Wrestling Roster Takes Shape for 2025-2026 Season
Paterson's Kennedy High School has its wrestling program listed and active for the 2025-2026 academic year on the New Jersey High School Sports network, marking another season for one of the city's public school athletic programs. Kennedy competes within a broad landscape of New Jersey high school sports that encompasses both boys and girls wrestling among dozens of other disciplines. The school's wrestling team is part of a broader athletic tradition at Kennedy that spans a full range of interscholastic sports for male and female student-athletes. High school athletics play an important role in keeping Paterson's youth engaged, and wrestling in particular has a dedicated following in cities with strong immigrant and working-class communities. The NJ High School Sports platform provides schedules, standings, and player information that allow families and fans to follow the team throughout the season. No specific match results or roster details were published in the available listing for the current season. [8]
Sources: [1] TAPinto · [5] cbsnews.com · [6] Insider NJ · [3] ABC7 New York · [2] Bergen Record · [4] TAPinto · [7] Bergen Record · [8] New Jersey High School Sports