A Canadian member of a neo-Nazi group was found guilty last month of misdemeanor assault and civil rights intimidation after he attacked a man last summer in downtown Nashville. The attack came after members of the Goyim Defense League, a white supremacist and antisemitic group, descended on Nashville in July 2024. During their time in town, the group demonstrated outside of West End Synagogue, disrupted Metro Council meetings, and marched down Broadway carrying hate filled banners and signs.
The convictions are being hailed as a victory for the city, according to Metro Council member Jacob Kupin (District 19), whose district includes downtown. “Nashville is showing that we’re going to hold people like this accountable. We’re not going to tolerate what I believe the mayor called, ‘terror tourism.’” He says Nashville’s high profile is what attracts these types of hate groups but is hopeful the convictions send a clear message. “It’s heartening to see how quickly, albeit government quickly, we’ve responded.”
The Jewish community is also pleased with the outcome. Judy Alperin, CEO of The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, says she is happy to see the levers of the justice system used to both enforce existing laws, and to hopefully set a new precedent. “We are happy to see law enforcement and the courts working together, as they should, to combat antisemitism and hate in all its forms,” she says, “While we support everyone’s right to free speech, it is clear Nashville is a city where inciting violence against Jews or any other group is unwelcome.”
The attack by Ryan McCann occurred in a parking lot downtown. The victim was Jewish and said he was hit and kicked while others in the hate group watched. Judge Dan Eisenstein was present during some of the trial and says comments by the defendant were chilling. “First, I couldn’t believe he was going to testify because they had so much evidence to cross-examine him. He tried to qualify killing all the Jews by saying the main purpose of killing Jews is to kill Jews in authority.” He adds he’s never heard testimony as direct as McCann’s saying he wanted to kill people.
The civil rights conviction, a Class D felony, is one that Eisenstein says is unusual. “I couldn’t find any prior law in Tennessee, nor could the presiding judge, nor could defense council, nor could the prosecutor. There’s been no other, as far as we could tell, no other reported case in Tennessee on this statute.”
Local criminal defense attorney Erin Coleman agrees with Eisenstein that the civil rights violation is an important point in this case. “I’ve never seen that charge before. It’s a very hard, theory based criminal law to prosecute.” She says it is difficult to draw the line from the assault, which was captured on video, and what it meant to the victim personally.
Coleman credits the lead detective’s testimony as being key to this conviction, as well as district attorney Wesley King’s presentation, which she says was systematic and well prepared. In addition, she says this case has even greater importance. “This is a win for the Jewish community, but nationally it is a win for Americans that these charges stuck, and that a jury of our peers was able to understand what a civil rights violation looks like.”
Looking forward, Coleman says this is a very important precedent. “Looking first at Tennessee, we now have a case on the books with a jury ruling that can be followed, the transcript can be read by prosecutors all over the state. Basically, it’s a step-by-step teaching tool on how to prosecute civil rights violations under Tennessee state law.” Eisenstein agrees, and says if the case is appealed, which is likely, this conviction would be considered a reported case and could set precedent for future similar offenses.
In addition, Coleman, who is also a board member for The Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, says the application of this particular statute could strengthen the Federation’s ability to push for similar laws at the Federal level. “We as a Federation can say to state legislators that we would love to have this type of law placed on the books. We know it works in Tennessee, we’ve seen it prosecuted. This is something we can advocate for.”
A second member of the Goyim Defense League, Louis Dunn, was indicted is expected to stand trial for the same incident as McCann. According to a press release from the Metro Nashville Police Department, Dunn will face similar charges. Police Chief John Drake says, ‘“Nashville and our police department will not let stand hatred that translates into criminal conduct. I am grateful to the team at the Specialized Investigations Division for their months of work to hold GDL members accountable.”
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