Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday announced that the city will begin closing the public schools on two major Muslim holidays. As Bronx reporter Erin Clarke reports, the announcement is being applauded in Parkchester, where there's a large community of Muslims from Bangladesh.

The mayor's decision to make good on his campaign promise to close schools on two Muslim holy days was warmly received in this corner of the Bronx.

America is a melting pot, many parents said, so why shouldn't Muslim students at PS 106 get days off to celebrate their faith's most sacred holidays.

"Freedom of speech, freedom of equality and that's what works in America,” said PS 106 parent Ricky Stukes.

The elementary school in the Parkchester neighborhood has a large number of students from South Asia. For years they were penalized for staying home on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, which were not recognized by the Department of Education as official school holidays.

"It does not make any sense for the 10 percent of the population of NYC public schools to have to choose between their faith and their education,” said Sheikh Moussa Drammeh, chairman of the Islamic Cultural Center.

Many here said they decision to grant the days off speaks volumes about the relationship the mayor is building with Muslim New Yorkers.

“I think it could only grow stronger, knowing that he's open to recognizing other faiths and having these holidays in the schools,” said Shireena Drammeh, principal of Islamic Leadership School.

“I see these steps as him trying to show care for the Muslim community, trying to show us that he cares for all religions and showing that he cares for us especially too, like we're not an outcast, we're a part of this community just as much as any other faith is,” said Islamic Leadership School student Jeremiah Ross.

Eid Al-Fitr falls over the summer in 2016 and will be designated as a holiday for those attending summer school.

Schools will close on September 24 of this year for Eid al-Adha, adding to the already double digit number of days city students have off for federal, Jewish and Christian holidays.