The San José Peace and Justice Center (SJPJC) was founded in 1957. Its founding members were concerned about peace and social justice, especially in regards to the growing nuclear arms race between the Soviet Union and the United States. For more than fifty years, the Peace and Justice Center has promoted non-violent civil disobedience in favor of racial and gender equality and world peace.

One of the individuals who founded the organization was Reverend George “Shorty” Collins, a 93-year old activist. The organization was active throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. They centered their activism on ending the Vietnam War, and accomplished this by counseling hundreds of men on options other than the draft, as well as organizing seminars and teach-ins on 1st and Santa Clara streets. In the 1980s, their goals shifted to the promotion of "The Peace Times", which was their monthly newspaper that focused on "peace activities in which they [the people] could participate". They also offered nonviolence education programs to educate people on de-escalation, nonviolent civilian self-defense, and nonviolent direct action, as well as high school direct outreach programs to educate people on alternatives to joining the military. These programs often included meetings with draft counselors. Lastly, they offered "The Pledge of Resistance to Prevent an Invasion of Central America", a campaign to stop US involvement in Central America. This pledge was taken by over 50,000 people, 400 of whom were from San Jose.

The Peace and Justice Center rose to prominence in 1966 when Lisa Kalvelage and several other women blocked off a napalm-loaded truck in front of United Technology in Sunnyvale. Pete Seger later memorialized Kalvelage in the song “My Name is Lisa Kalvelage” to honor her actions and her commitment to achieving world-peace. The Peace and Justice Center rose to prominence in 1966 when Lisa Kalvelage and several other women blocked off a napalm-loaded truck in front of United Technology in Sunnyvale. Pete Seger later memorialized Kalvelage in the song, "My Name is Lisa Kalvelage" to honor her actions and her commitment to achieving world-peace. This organization has also involved itself in a number of other political actions including anti-war and antinuclear demonstrations, supporting women's liberation in Latin America, and providing court and prisoner support for Angela Davis and Mumia Abu-Jamal.