Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane (PJALS)

History

The Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane was established in 1975 to oppose U.S. military interventions and promote non-violence. ³ Over the decades, it expanded its scope from anti-war advocacy to a broader left-wing agenda that includes left-of-center criminal justice policy, racial equity, and opposition to so-called “white Christian nationalism.” ⁴

Since approximately 2009, the organization has been led by executive director Liz Moore, who previously worked for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). ⁵ Under her leadership, PJALS has prioritized “grassroots leadership development,” particularly among youth, to build a “cross-class, multiracial” movement capable of influencing local policy. ⁶

Advocacy

The Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane utilizes a “member-driven” approach to set its strategic priorities, which for 2025 to 2026 include ending mass incarceration, countering white Christian nationalism, and opposing U.S. “imperialism and militarism,” with a specific focus on the conflict in Gaza. PJALS maintains a staunch anti-war position, calling for the redirection of U.S. military spending toward domestic social programs. Its 2025 to 2026 priorities include “countering US imperialism and militarism,” with specific advocacy focused on opposing U.S. support for Israel in the Gaza conflict.​ ⁷

PJALS is a founding member of Smart Justice Spokane, a coalition that opposes the construction of new jail facilities and advocates reducing the incarcerated population. The organization works closely with Spokane Community Against Racism (SCAR), which explicitly demands that the city “disband the police department” and “defund the police” to reinvest in community programs. PJALS has been described as being “deeply involved” in the work underpinning these demands. ⁸

The organization also mobilized in support of the “Spokane 9,” a group of protesters arrested in 2023 for blocking an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle attempting to transport detainees. PJALS characterized the prosecution of these individuals as an “intimidation tactic” and organized support for their legal defense. ⁹

A major priority for PJALS is exposing and disrupting what it terms “white Christian nationalism” in the Pacific Northwest. The organization helped organize opposition to the “ReAwaken America” tour, a right-of-center political event, by rallying religious and community leaders to denounce the tour’s message as hateful and divisive. ¹⁰ PJALS frames this work as essential to resisting “imperialism” and protecting targeted communities, including immigrants and LGBT individuals.​ ¹¹

Grants

In 2023, the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane reported total revenue of approximately $824,335 and net assets of roughly $427,617. The organization receives funding from individual memberships as well as grants from various left-of-center foundations. ¹²

Notable institutional funders have included Better Health Together, which awarded PJALS a Community Resiliency Grant to support its “Building, Organizing Leadership Development (BOLD)” project and its anti-incarceration work. ¹³

Leadership

Liz Moore has worked as the executive director of PJALS since approximately 2009. Moore has a background in labor-union organizing and environmental studies. In 2023, she received a total compensation of $77,214. The organization is governed by a steering committee elected by its membership, though a current public list of committee members is not prominently maintained on its primary website. ¹⁴