Founded in Seattle in 1969, the Central Contractors Association (CCA), sought equal compliance in contracts granted on Federal building projects. Leader Tyree Scott (1940–2003) was a civil rights activist deeply involved in many minority workers’ and equal opportunity organizations. At the time, because of union control over the local labor market, it was almost impossible for Black workers and Black contractors to benefit from government contracts. When construction firms and labor unions continued to deny work opportunities to CCA members despite civil rights legislation that banned such discrimination, the organization initiated a series of direct-action protests in 1969 and 1970.

In this image riot-equipped King County Sheriffs watch as CCA demonstrators march through the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport terminal to advocate for more jobs for minorities on construction projects at the airport.

Caption information source: The Seattle Times, November 7, 1969, page 1
Caption information source: http://www.blackpast.org/aaw/central-contractors-association
Caption information also derived from captions written by Post-Intelligencer staff and attached to the back of the photograph.