ST. LOUIS OFFICIALS TAKE FIRM STAND ON BLOCKADE

A show of firm resolve has put an end to another highway blockade planned for this week in St. Louis. The results were far different than last year's shutdown of I-70, which resulted in negotiations by Gov. Mel Carnahan that led to quite a few concessions to the protesters.

Last year's highway blockade was over minority hiring by contractors that build highways. In that particular case, the construction project at hand was one in a largely minority area of St. Louis. In the end, Carnahan promised he would persuade contractors to increase minority hiring and to fund a training center for minority workers.

The governor's promises were widely applauded by those who think government's role is to meddle in the affairs of privately owned contracting companies who already must deal with a maze of bureaucracy covering everything from hiring practices to environmental hoops and hurdles.

This year, officials -- officials who had the backbone to thwart the planned blockade of U.S. 40 before it became another opportunity for unnecessary government concessions -- deserve commendation for just saying no.

Instead of a lot of hand-wringing and unproductive meetings, the officials spoke plainly: If you try to blockade this busy artery in our city, we're going to haul you off to jail before you reach the highway.

Organizers of the blockade called it off. Their reasons included the fact that family members of two men shot and killed by police had requested that the blockade not take place. The organizers also observed that it's pretty doggone hot to be standing on concrete in the midday sun.

In reality, the blockade was called off because officials said they wouldn't tolerate another highway shutdown.

While it is good that officials banded together to resist such nonsense as another highway blockade, the reasons for the intended blockade shouldn't be ignored.

The central issue involves videotapes from security cameras outside a fast-food restaurant where police killed two men, one of whom was suspected of involvement with drugs, and another who a passenger in the suspect's car. Civil rights activists demand to see those tapes, but the St. Louis County prosecutor refuses to show them to the activists.

Any time government officials hide behind secrecy, there is a legitimate citizen concern. At some point, attorneys representing the interests of the two dead men will be given an opportunity to see the videotapes. Why not make them available now?