In 1990, the Northern Spotted Owl was placed on the federal endangered species list, and a plan was needed to protect the species. The owl’s primary habitat was the prime timber of the Pacific Northwest’s shrinking old growth forests. When the U.S. Forest Service proposed selling 66,000 acres of this old growth forest, environmental groups sought an injunction against the sale, and in 1991, Judge William Dwyer shut down most federal timber sales temporarily while an owl protection plan could be drawn up.

Hearings on the proposed injunction were held at the federal courthouse in downtown Seattle. Some 300 timber workers and their families rallied in protest, fearing job loss. Here, surrounded by other protestors and signs, third-generation logger Chad Johnson holds up his “Love a Logger” poster.

Caption information source: The Seattle Times: May 7, 1991, p. H2; May 24, 1991, p. A1.
Caption information also derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.