Black contractors plan rally in advance of 'highway shutdown' BND

A worker is suspended on the forms of the Illinois side tower. On Tuesday workers were installing forms and preparing for the next pour of concrete. - Derik Holtmann/BND

EAST ST. LOUIS -- Members of the Metro-East Black Contractors Organization will host a rally at 5 p.m. today in front of City Hall at 301 River Park Drive.

They invite anyone who is interested in helping to get more minority workers on the Mississippi River Bridge construction project to attend the rally.

At 7 a.m. Friday, the group will meet at City Hall before they have what their lawyer calls a "highway shutdown."

Organizers have not released details about their plans for Friday morning.

Eric Vickers, legal counsel for the group, said, "Everyone is invited to be a part of this rally and the highway shutdown." Courtesy of BND