Neo-Nazis Disrupt Metro Council Meeting

Metro police cleared the public gallery 10 minutes into the announcement period at Tuesday’s Metro Council meeting following an order by Councilmember At-Large Zulfat Suara, who was presiding over the chamber. For about 30 minutes preceding the order, a dozen individuals in matching T-shirts had gradually escalated antisemitic, homophobic and racist diatribes directed toward bystanders and news media. Online antisemitic provocateur Jon Minadeo II led the group and briefly signed up for public comment at the meeting before crossing out his name. 

The Scene spoke with several members of the group, who identified themselves and fellow members as residents of Florida, Colorado and Canada. They told the Scene that Nashville was part of a multi-city tour meant to generate media attention and promote antisemitism. The small group communicates remotely and chose to come to Nashville because of the city’s significance as a liberal bastion within a state dominated by conservative politics. On Sunday, one member — Ryan Scott McCann of Ontario, Canada — was charged with felony assault following a physical altercation on Broadway. The group briefly gathered around 3:30 p.m. at West End Synagogue before entering the Metro Council chamber around 5:30 p.m.

Several, including Minadeo, claimed spots under pseudonyms on the public comment sign-up sheet. Councilmember Jeff Preptit had recently introduced a bill to prohibit Metro Nashville Police Department employees from “unlawful association with criminal hate groups and paramilitary gangs,” though Nazi members say this was a coincidence and that they had planned to share conspiracy theories during the public comment period. 

Suara began the announcements portion of Tuesday’s meeting with a direct address regarding the group. At that time, members repeatedly displayed antisemitic gestures and verbally harassed members of the media, individuals in the chamber and councilmembers directly. Several had signed up for public comment under antisemitic pseudonyms. 

Right Flight: The Past, Present and Future of Right-Wing Extremism in Tennessee

Examining the history of white supremacy in Nashville, modern far-right hate groups, and Williamson County as a seat of right-wing politics

“Please do not engage this group,” Suara said in an opening statement. “They want attention. You don’t have to give it to them. But I do want you to know that this council and Nashville government condemns all forms of hate. When you come for one of us, you come for all of us, and we continue to stand together as Nashvillians.”

Shortly after, Minadeo began yelling slurs over councilmembers in the gallery. The chamber had an increased law enforcement presence, with officers from MNPD and the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office. 

“When these become direct threats to a person, that’s when we legally intervene,” one MNPD officer told the Scene.

Suara gave an order to clear the gallery about 10 minutes into the announcement period. Around that time, several councilmembers, including Preptit and Joy Styles, prevented District 30’s Sandra Sepulveda from physically entering the gallery following a verbal outburst at the Nazi group from Sepulveda. 

“We’re not doing this today,” Styles said, comforting Sepulveda. “We don’t have to do this today.”

Other councilmembers were visibly distraught. Several congregated at the back of the council floor to witness the chamber being cleared.

The Nazi group continued verbally harassing and provoking bystanders, including news media and counter-protestors, on the steps of the Metro Courthouse for about 20 minutes before driving off in a white van. Metro law director Wally Dietz and Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s chief of staff, Marjorie Pomeroy-Wallace, watched the scrum from a distance with MNPD officers. Dietz told the Scene that the city can clear the gallery when individuals disrupt government business, but that outside the chamber, speech is protected as a First Amendment right. 

“This is quite literally the public square,” Dietz told the Scene. “They can talk and say what they want, as long as they don't threaten violence. But they disrupted the council meeting and will not come back in there.” 

A few yards away, a handful of counter-protestors faced down the Nazis, many of whom were filming or streaming on their phones. Minadeo and others regularly livestream their public provocation to fundraise.

“We need Nazis out of Tennessee,” one counter-protestor, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Scene. "They have no reason to be here, locals don’t want them here — Nazis, fuck off. Spread love, support your community, protect your neighbors and keep everyone safe. If enough people are loved and supported in our community, the haters and extremists won’t come here because they’ll know they aren’t welcome.”

The Anti-Defamation League recommends these guidelines for responding to extremist disruptions at public meetings.