ST. LOUIS—Activists charging that a two-year, multibillion dollar highway repair project would exclude Black contractors, angrily threatened to stop the work, if nothing changed.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) ignored the warning, and those threats became reality June 26 as over 40 angry protesters swarmed construction equipment and stopped workers, delaying highway construction for hours.

Protesters were livid about the lack of minority participation in area construction projects and say the clash is just the beginning of "civil disobedience" if the state continues to exclude Black firms from contracts.

Police arrested 31 protesters in the incident.

As part of a state wide highway improvement campaign, last year Missouri began plans for major interstate bridge and road repair operations.

Black contractors say they were left out of those plans. They say the highway department purposely discriminates against Black firms, keeping them out of million dollar contracts.

"The state is using Black tax dollars, but isn’t hiring any Black contractors to do the work, said Anthony Shahid, of the Coalition of Muslim Leaders.

The coalition stood in support of the contractors.

"This is a violation of our human rights," said Mr. Shahid, who argued the disparity in state-issued contracts benefits white construction companies while leaving Black firms out to dry.

"All we want is a clear and level playing field," he said.

Protesters accused the state of intentionally avoiding Black-owned construction companies preferring women-owned businesses. MoDOT denies the charge.

"By federal regulations we have to hire 10 percent minority or disadvantaged business enterprises on state projects, and we’ve exceeded those guidelines with 14 percent," said MoDOT spokesman Chris Sutton.

"We’ve encouraged minority participation on projects," said Mr. Sutton.

But activists say in hiring the state chooses immigrant and woman-owned construction companies to fill its minority contracting goals, keeping out Black-owned firms.

They say oftentimes women-owned companies are "fronts" used by white men to obtain "minority" contracts.

"Many of these women proprietors know very little about the construction business, but had companies placed in their name, by their husbands, to be eligible for projects," charged Mr. Shahid. "It’s the same old soup, just a different bowl," he added, referring to government racism.

According to federal guidelines, Missouri must have 10 percent minority participation on state funded construction projects. Black contractors say St. Louis ordinances require 25 percent minority participation, and are demanding MoDOT meet the 25 percent contracting goal.

MoDOT said it’s not governed by local mandates.

"The city of St. Louis is regulated by different rules than the state department. We have to follow federal guidelines," said Mr. Sutton.

Activists say federal standards aren’t good enough, and are preparing for further action.

"If the state does not reach a resolution to the situation (by July 12) we will engage in civil disobedience tactics, (including) shutting down Interstate 70 during rush hour" until "the state ends the economic disparity in relation to the minority community," said protest organizer Atty. Eric Vickers.

Mr. Vickers predicts mass arrests if the situation goes unresolved.

In a memo faxed to Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan, activists said the matter was urgent, an "embarrassment" to the state and "flagrant injustice" against the Black community.

Atty. Vickers said similar discrimination is happening all over the country, and shouldn’t be tolerated.