The city of Newark was celebrating a different type of independence day on Thursday.

People gathered at City Hall for an event to commemorate the Belgian Congo gaining its independence from Belgium on June 30, 1960.

The country is now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"This represents the community, the people of Congo, the people of Africa living in Newark, in the United States and the contribution these people bring every day to the community,” says Victor Yabidi, a nurse practitioner specialist.

A flag raising ceremony was also held.