 The culmination of this conflict was the "Christmas Coup" in December 2000 when a faction led by Leid, padlocked the station and took control of the airwaves and started an on-air and off-air war that lasted for several years.Some senior WBAI staffers, including General Manager Van Isler, were fired immediately.Van Isler, in particular, was blamed for the early death of Marksman.