A Canadian member of the neo-Nazi Goyim Defense League (GDL) has been indicted for attacking a Jewish man in Nashville, Tennessee. Ryan Scott McCann, 29, allegedly taunted and assaulted the victim, attempting a “spinning elbow strike” to the head and neck before kicking him multiple times as he tried to escape, reports The Jerusalem Post.
A Davidson County Grand Jury indicted McCann on charges of civil rights intimidation and assault. He remains in custody with an additional $50,000 bond set.
This is not McCann’s first violent offence. In July 2023, he was arrested for felony aggravated assault after attacking a bartender with a flagpole. At the time of his latest assault, he was already under court-ordered restrictions, prohibited from leaving Davidson County, and was wearing an ankle monitor.
McCann is a known member of the Goyim Defense League (GDL), a neo-Nazi hate group that openly promotes antisemitic conspiracy theories and calls for the expulsion of Jews from America. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) describes the GDL as a group that spreads antisemitic propaganda, including false claims that Jews control the media, molest children, and were responsible for the 9/11 attacks.
In July 2023, GDL members gathered in downtown Nashville for a protest against so-called “white replacement”, a racist theory that claims immigrants and people of colour are displacing white Americans. Protesters wore “Pro-White” T-shirts, carried Swastika-emblazoned flags, and chanted antisemitic slogans.
The rise of neo-Nazi activity in Nashville has sparked alarm among residents and officials. Following the GDL’s July rally, former Nashville mayor Megan Barry stated:
“Nashville has a Nazi problem. We need to make it clear that they are badly mistaken.”
McCann’s indictment underscores growing concerns about antisemitic violence in the US, particularly as extremist groups like the GDL continue to target Jewish individuals and communities. Authorities remain vigilant as McCann awaits trial.
Photo credit: Metropolitan Nashville Police Department
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