Woody sez: "It's the lawyers!"

An update to yesterday's post...beginning with an email exchange:

From: Woody woody@1057thepoint.com
Subject: Another day, another bogus story on STLMEDIA
To: stlmedia@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 4:29 PM

Hey Mike......

Now I know this is gonna really bum you out......but we're not suspended. We're back on the air Monday. Anyone who's been listening to the show knows that we've been organizing a counter protest, to the protest of Northwest High School by the Westboro Baptist Church (a.k.a. the godhatesfags.com idiots). They were there to protest the diversity programs the school offers as well as to damn the school for hosting a memorial service for Sgt. Brian Wood's.....a local soldier who died in the line of duty.

Because this counter protest SNOWBALLED due to our promotion, the size and scope of the event worried the Emmis lawyers.....worried that despite our promoting this as a peaceful and non-violent protest that someone would do something stupid, and then we (Rizzuto and I), the station, and Emmis could potentially be on the hook if something went sideways. So after interviewing the director of the Southern Illinois/Missouri Anti-Defamation League, talking to local authorities, and others who had a hand in the planning of this counter protest.....Emmis decided that the best course of action for today (the day of the protest) would be to NOT have us on the air. We did nothing wrong, we're not in trouble, and we'll be back on Monday. There you have it. Don't believe me? Listen Monday and everyone will get the full story.

Also.....over 800 people showed up to the counter protest today. It was a GREAT thing to see. Hwy 30 was lined with American Flags, and everyone behaved themselves......well....ALMOST everyone. According to a report from the scene.....the GodHatesFags people were the ones who got arrested.....for doing something THEY shouldn't have done. HA HA!

FYI, myself and Rizzuto will be hosting a benefit for the Daughters of Sgt Brian Woods Foundation next Thursday at Hotshots in Fenton. The $5.00 donation at the door, profits from 105 "GodHatesDouchebags.com" T-shirts, and money from a Red, White and Blue bikini contest, along with any other money raised that night will go to Sgt. Woods kids.

So while the boycott is real (and ridiculous to anyone who actually HEARD the comments), your story as to why we are off the air today and tomorrow couldn't be more wrong.

Off to join my own boycott.......hope to see you at Hotshots on Thursday!

Woody

Then my response...

From: Mike Anderson [mailto:stlmedia@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thu 11/12/2009 7:11 PM
To: Woody
Subject: Re: Another day, another bogus story on STLMEDIA
 
Woody:
 
Your snark may be a bit misdirected.
 
Good for you for organizing against Westboro Baptist. They and their pastor are a blight on society. Too bad Emmis' attorneys took the route they did. My personal experience (an issue several years back regarding the publication of an Emmis employment contract) with Emmis Legal is that their timidity is exceeded only by John Beck's.
 
I hope that your fundraiser for the Daughters of Sgt Brian Woods Foundation next Thursday is a gigantic success.
 
As to the boycott and Facebook page furor over your Josh Herr comments, I will presume that my third conclusion in the piece I published is correct: it was a stunt. An update, your comments and this response will be published this evening. Enjoy your time off.
 
Mike Anderson

The Josh Herr incident goes substantially unanswered and the Facebook boycott silliness continues, which was the point of the previous entry.   For what it's worth, the Herr thing may or may not have been a stunt.  Nonetheless, it appears to have been in pretty poor taste.

So, no suspension.  Just a lawyer's time out.