GDL

Inspired by neo-Nazi zealotry, GDL content glorifies Adolph Hitler and the Waffen SS, features “white power” slogans, denies the Holocaust, and propagates far-right conspiracy theories such as the “great replacement” and “Jewish supremacy.”

Originally based in California before moving its headquarters to Florida in 2022, the GDL is now active nationwide, frequently organizing on its video platform, GoyimTV, as well as under-regulated thread boards such as Gab and Telegram.

Since 2018, StopAntisemitism has consistently documented the GDL’s history of violence and Jew hatred on the internet and throughout the United States. In 2022, the GDL was responsible for almost 10% of all documented hate crimes targeting Jews.

The GDL is notorious for its targeted flyer drops, in which antisemitic brochures are distributed, often in historically Jewish neighborhoods or ones with a sizable Jewish community, and feature the names and pictures of prominent Jewish individuals in a variety of industries or supposedly related to hot-button political issues such as gun control, immigration, abortion, and COVID. These coordinated campaigns have covered nearly a third of the country, with the vile leaflets frequently found in plastic bags, weighted down with coffee beans, rocks, rice, corn kernels, or chicken feed, and littered in residents’ front yards, mailboxes, driveways, or on cars.

Other GDL tactics include hanging banners over popular freeway overpasses with antisemitic messages, including one dropped over the 405 in Los Angeles that read “Kanye is right about the Jews.” The GDL also projects hate symbols and slogans on buildings, vandalizes streets with antisemitic graffiti, drives around in rented U-Hauls covered in antisemitic messaging yelling propaganda from a loudspeaker, and provocatively confronts unsuspecting civilians on video with the resulting footage later posted on their website.

Jon Minadeo II, GDL’s leader, and a self-proclaimed white supremacist was named StopAntisemitism’s ‘Antisemite of the Week’ and a top 3 finalist in StopAntisemitism’s 2022 ‘Antisemite of the Year’ contest. Minadeo is the only person to have been named ‘Antisemite of the Week’ twice. He is a well-known agitator who often stages publicity stunts, such as dressing as an Orthodox Jew and running around yelling antisemitic slogans from a megaphone, and even traveling to Auschwitz Concentration Camp memorial, where he held up Jew-hating signs. He is also known for his ‘Name the Nose’ tours, which can involve several days or even weeks of coordinated antisemitic efforts in a particular geographical area.

The hate group has thousands of followers online, with several of its members having been arrested and charged with both misdemeanors and felony hate crimes. Prominent members of GDL include anti-Zionist Robert Frank Wilson, aka ‘Aryan Bacon’, and Jew-hater Nicholas Bysheim. Frank Wilson was the GDL member alongside Minadeo who posed with antisemitic signs outside of Auschwitz. Wilson fled to Europe to escape criminal charges for physically attacking his neighbor. Amsterdam police were quick to link an antisemitic incident at the Anne Frank Museum to Wilson. Wilson projected antisemitic phrases onto the museum’s exterior. Bysehim or ‘Jehu’ has been arrested several times for littering antisemitic flyers throughout the country. Bysheim is currently due in court regarding one of these incidents, he is unable to find a lawyer to represent him. Other members include convicted pedophile, Jesse Shenk & anti-Zionist arsonist, Franklin Sechriest.

The GDL’s dangerous ideology inspired many members to participate in antisemitic rampages and bias against the Jewish people. In February 2023, Jew-hating Jaime Tran shot two Jewish men as they left prayer services in Los Angeles. It was quickly uncovered that Tran had been kicked out of dental school for harassing Jewish students with the GDL flyers produced by Minadeo and his members.

Key members of the GDL include:

JON EUGENE MINADEO II

Leader & founder of GDL responsible for thousands of antisemitic flyers being littered across the country, Jon Minadeo II currently resides in Port Saint Lucy, Florida

NICHOLAS ALAN BYSHEIM

Often photographed alongside Minadeo during flyer and banner drops across the nation. Bysheim was arrested in October 2022, January 2023, and August 2023 for his assistance in projecting antisemitic propaganda on private buildings in Florida and littering.

JESSE SHENK

In March 2021, GDL member Jesse Shenk was arrested and charged with child endangerment and sexual exploitation of a 14 year old girl after planning to meet up with the minor he had been engaging with online.

ROBERT FRANK WILSON

Wilson was arrested with Minadeo for protesting with antisemitic signs outside the Auschwitz Holocaust Memorial site in September 2022. He fled the country and has ongoing charges against him, including battery and hate crimes.Wilson was later revealed as the perpetrator who projected antisemitic messaging on the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

FRANKLIN SECHRIEST

On October 31, 2021 Texas State University freshman Franklin Sechriest torched Congregation Beth Israel in Central Texas causing thousands of dollars in damade.On November 3, 2021 he was arrested and charged with arson. He is facing 10 to 60 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.

JEFFREY KIDDER

In August 2022, Jeffrey Kidder was arrested after he spent months tossing antisemitic GDL flyers throughout numerous cities.Kiddle refused to admit he was responsible for the flyer drops and claimed the government was ‘controlled by the Jewish population.’

DAVID KIM

In October 2022, Kim was arrested & cited alongside Nicholas Bysheim in Rhode Island after distributing GDL flyers. In January 2023, Kim was cited again for littering in Palm Beach with Bysheim, Jonathan Baldwin, and GDL leader Jon Minadeo II.Kim was recently photographed with several other GDL members outside an Orlando Chabad harassing Jewish members.

CHRISTOPHER ACRET

Law enforcement and a University Professor’s investigation discovered Christopher Acret was the GDL member behind the massive antisemitic flyer drops reoccurring in the Northern California area.

ANTHONY JOSEPH HAMMER

In March 2022, Anthony Hammer was arrested in Denton, Texas on federal charges of interstate communication of a threat following an FBI investigation focused on online threats.Hammer’s home was searched and antisemitic articles of clothing were found, as well as a sticker machine, and $100,000 in cash.

JASON BROWN

On February 4, 2022, the Orange County (Florida) Sheriff’s Department arrested and charged Jason Brown for his violent role in the January 29, 2022, antisemitic hate crime assault of a Jewish man. Brown was additionally charged with grand theft after he stole the man’s cell phone and destroyed it. He was denied bond.

MICHAEL WEAVER

Weaver calls for the expulsion of Jews from America and has harassed Jews outside Florida Synagogues. In 2023 he stated he would “take every Jew out of America” and threatened to use “force” against the “Jewish power structure” he claimed runs America.

PHILIP JACOBS

Philip Jacobs is an armed member who has made multiple threatening posts on social media against Jews. He claims “America has been hijacked by Jews” and prays “God please send another Hitler.” Jacobs is behind dozens of they antisemitic flyer drops.

HILLARY JACOBS

Married to Philip Jacobs, Hillary is behind hundred of antisemitic flyer drops around the country. She has attended multiple GDL protests where she has given Nazi salutes to other members. She has stated, “Jews were an issue and still are.”