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Johnny Northside. Photo: evilpinkpony
The former head of a Minneapolis neighborhood group is suing a local blogger over online words he says cost him a job. Jerry Moore, who used to run the Jordan Area Community Council (JACC), contends that he lost employment with the University of Minnesota because John Hoff and six others defamed him via slanted posts at Hoff’s blog, The Adventures of Johnny Northside.
With the future of JACC itself the subject of current court action, Moore’s suit says Hoff’s participation in matters he chronicled makes him “disentitled” to free-speech protections.
(An example of Hoff’s crusading work is yesterday’s “exclusive video” post titled “Fire At 3020 6th St. N., Former Crack House.”)
Hoff also let the comments section of his blog become a “defamation zone” for anonymous commenters, Moore claims. The lawsuit, filed Friday, also names five of them, as best it can, as “John Doe” defendants.
Journalist Anna Pratt, at her Prattles blog, sees parallels to DFL activist and political consultant Blois Olson’s 2007 suit against blogger-turned-Minnesota-GOP second-banana Michael Brodkorb. (That case was dismissed.)
Meanwhile, Hoff — who made news last February by publicizing state Rep. Jim Abeler’s comments about North Minneapolis kids using wooden nickles to plug bullet holes — has a movie in the works, also called “The Adventures of Johnny Northside.” Here’s a trailer for it:
The Adventures of Johnny Northside Movie Trailer from Gabriel Cheifetz on Vimeo.
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3 Comments »
Comment posted July 1, 2009 @ 12:04 am
I only have a thumbnail sketch understanding of what went on with JACC, so I can not comment on the accuracy of whatever statements were made regarding that issue. I would like to just say something in a general manner however about Johnny Northside. This guy has shown a passion for his community that is nothing short of amazing. The Northside is stigmatized for so many reasons; however, through following the Johnny Northside Blog, I am getting the sense that 1) People can stand up against those darker elements in their community – even in North Minneapolis and 2) The Northside is making progress. I have to say that I have been drawn to the Northside and am fascinated by it in a way that I never would have been without the Johnny Northside Blog. This guy has really stuck his neck out and created a “buzz” about change occurring Over North. The courts will handle the matter regarding this lawsuit; however, in the court of public opinion, I hope it is kept in perspective that John Hoff has routinely gone above and beyond where most others would go to rise up a community that has been so looked down upon by others. In my eyes, this guy is really amazing!
Comment posted July 1, 2009 @ 5:14 pm
I think John Hoff is at least a little condescending in his actions. This is the same guy that wrote an opinion piece in the Minnesota Daily in 2006 about a woman who was killed while riding her bicycle:
http://www.mndaily.com/2009/02/22/time-get-real-about-bike-safety
Mr. Hoff blamed the victim stating that a cyclist would still be alive today if she had only ridden her bike on the sidewalk. The sidewalk in Stadium Village.
Comment posted July 10, 2009 @ 1:02 pm
Matty,
I read the article, but I didn’t come to the conclusion that Hoff was saying that it was victim’s fault. Seemed to me that he was blame the U for the rule that you cannot bike on the sidewalk.
His stuff on the Adventures of Johnny Northside is more edgy
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