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Holiday Interfaith Justice and Peace Circle at Freedom Square

December 10, 2022 @ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm EST

Join us in a celebration of light and community. Around an evergreen tree, we will light candles, tie the names of loved ones on branches, and share our light to set intentions for love, justice and peace. Before the tree lighting there will be warm beverages, snacks, arts and crafts, and a radio-making station. Bring your wishes for light, justice and peace, as we reflect on current times and come together with sacred intention, embracing all religions and beliefs.

Co-sponsors: Troy MLK Labor & Community Network, Troy Central Little League, People’s Health Sanctuary, Hudson Mohawk Magazine, SNUG, The Fish Market Project, Mothers Out Front, Troy Bike Rescue,…. and more to come!

Documentation of the Event

Photos by Robert Cooper:

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A colorful image of an evergreen tree decorate with ornaments and lights, with a hand reaching up to grab one of the ornaments. The hand belongs to a person of color and has silver rings.
A collection of toy monkeys in a circle around the base of a tree with a pink skirt below them.
A collection of single-wick, thin white candles with small paper circles around them.
Two children hanging ornaments on a tree, one wearing a raccoon hat and purple jacket and the other wearing a tiger hat and a pink jacket. Behind them, there are white plastic chairs and other children and adults gathered around at the event/
Two woman putting together the candles pictured previously, each bundled up for the cold wearing hats and jackets as they stand at a table preparing for the event.
Three people or color, ranging from children to teenagers, pouring hot cocoa from a container. From left to right, they are wearing a red jacket, black jacket, and blue jacket. They stand outside a house in a front yard.
An image of a smiling, light-skinned person with short curly hair standing behind a craft table, which is filled with crayons, markers, and other supplies. Behind them stands another person and a mosaic scene with more decorated trees.
An image of two bikes, blue and green, and a table that has three jars, labeled TBR (troy bike rescue) bike gift card, blue bike, and green bike. Below these jars is a poster that reads Free Bike from Troy Bike Rescue.
A group of people sit at a table with pens and notepads strewn across it, with three people of color and one light-skinned woman working behind and another person standing in front talking to them. There is a parking lot behind them as well as several houses and buildings.
Another table held by a medium-skinned person wearing a blue jacket and grey hat, with an advertisement for Mothers Out Front and various posters/leaflets describing the organization. They are in front of a parking lot and a mosaic wall.
Two people (on left, light-skinned person with purple hat and black jacket, and on right, a person of color with black hair and a black jacket) putting ornaments on a wreathe. In the center is a poster that reads 2022 Gratitude Wreathe What are you grateful for?. There is also a tree behind them and a mosaic wall.
A wreathe covered in ornaments with a tree behind it, also highly decorated and both in front of a mosaic wall.
An image of several people, holding sings/ wearing signs. On the right is a light-skinned person in a wheelchair bundled up in all blue, holding a sign that reads Stand Against Racism. On their left, another person stands with their back to the camera with a sign strung across their back reading Stop Racism NOW, wearing a black jacket and yellow hat. There are also people in the background, as well as houses and more tables for the event.
A group of people, all bundled up for the cold, gathered around holding candles preparing for the ceremony.
A single-shot of a person of color holding up a candle in their left hand for the camera, wearing glasses and a beanie with a black jacket.
The person on the right is using their candle to light the person on the left's. Both are wearing hats and jackets and it is becoming dark outside.
More gather around with lit candles in hand, featuring two people from a previous picture, still holding their signs and smiling as they prepare for the event.
A light-skinned person wearing a grey beanie, holding a lit candle and having their hand over the flame to protect it.
More people standing before a mosaic wall, holding lit candles. It is night time and the candles illuminate the people.
A single person of color holding a lit candle smiling at the camera, wearing a white hoodie and black puffer jacket.
On the left, a light-skinned woman with long blond hair wearing a black hoodie. On the right, a person of color holding a li t candle. Both are looking at the camera.
Sever people gathered against the mosaic wall, all holding and protecting their lit candles as they prepare for the event.
Three people standing before a tree. From left to right, a light -skinned person standing behind, and then two people of color holding their lit candles closer to the tree both wearing black hoodies.
Several participants gather around with their lit candles, all smiling for the camera and holding their candles, standing In front of a mosaic wall.

Learn more about our Holiday Interfaith Justice and Peace history

Local and diverse communities of friends and networks have been gathering at the Sanctuary for over a decade. Because of the pandemic, we are not able to have our full community celebration inside… but please join us to continue our tradition of joining together to celebrate the light within each of us and our collective powers!

Check out this video of our fifth annual North Central Holiday Justice & Peace Celebration, which culminated in this interfaith gathering at Freedom Square on Dec. 30, 2016. Share the light in joy and resistance!

An image of Aileen Javier, a medium-skinned woman, holding a lit candle while bundled up in a multicolor scarf and black jacket, wearing a black face mask while looking at the camera.
Aileen Javier, Board President, The Sanctuary for Independent Media, sharing her amazing light during the 2021 Holiday Interfaith Justice and Peace Circle at Freedom Square.

How you can participate

Please bring your wish for light in the new year. Also, there’s lots of ways you can support this community event, including:

  • Volunteer to run a small art or activity table
  • Bring toys and gifts for children
  • Bake Holiday Cookies
  • Bring decorations for the interfaith tree and Freedom Square
  • Reach out to your friends and networks to spread the word
  • Sign up for our set up or clean up crews
  • Other ideas? Let us know my emailing [email protected]. Thank you!

Freedom Square

35 5th Ave
Troy, NY 12180 United States

We are committed to lowering the barriers to access for events at The Sanctuary for Independent Media. For people who are hard of hearing or deaf, blind or low-vision, or whose physical limitations can interfere with a satisfying experience, let us know two weeks in advance so we can make appropriate arrangements.

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