George Mason University Rescinds Admission to Alleged Neo-Nazi

George Mason University (GMU) announced on June 16 that the university rescinded its admissions to an incoming freshman student who allegedly attempted to join a neo-Nazi group.

The controversy stems from a May blog post from a group calling itself the Colorado Springs Anti-Fascists alleging that then-incoming GMU freshman Andrew Brewer attempted to join Patriot Front, which the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) describes as “a white supremacist group whose members maintain that their ancestors conquered America and bequeathed it solely to them.”

The post said that the group had ensnared Brewer into what’s known as a honeypot — similar to police sting operations — meaning that the Colorado Springs group posed as the Patriot Front organization and took screenshots of its correspondences with Brewer and recorded members’ phone conversations with him. Among the posted recordings include Brewer describing himself as a “neo-fascist” and decrying the fact that he couldn’t display swastikas he had collected in public in Germany; Brewer said that he collected them as “historical artifacts.” Brewer is currently based in Germany.

Additionally, Brewer can be heard saying that he didn’t have an opinion on Israel “because I only get the side of ‘oh we need to save Israel, oh the Jews are oppressed’ and I just want to hear the other side … I’m more on the side of people need to stay in their own damn country.” He also discusses how excited he is that he can talk to Patriot Front because the organization shares his view.

The post also captures screenshots that seem to indicate that Brewer joined Stormfront, the neo-Nazi internet forum, and that Brewer stated on his Reddit account that he wants “to remove minorities.”

GMU student Zachary Wolfson launched a petition in response to the post calling on GMU to rescind Brewer’s admission to the university.

“It has come to the attention of the George Mason University Student Body that neo-Nazi and self-defined white supremacist Andrew Brewer has been accepted into George Mason University,” the petition states. “Andrew has sought membership in Patriot Front, an avowed white supremacist organization, openly identifies as a fascist, and has expressed anti-LGBTQIA+, anti-Semitic, and racist beliefs.”

The petition added: “If allowed to enroll and enter the Class of 2024, Mr. Brewer would become yet another glaring example that Mason cares only for its minority communities when convenient. Furthermore, it would show the students of GMU that, to the administration and office of admissions, Mr. Brewer’s white supremacy is not only not a dealbreaker but a shining example of ‘exemplary personal conduct.’ ”

Wolfson told the student-run newspaper Fourth Estate, “Having experienced anti-Semitism as a Jewish student, I understand that Andrew’s desire to join Patriot Front and statements to ‘remove minorities,’ advocate the usage of concentration camps, and casually write ‘sieg heil’ incite violence. I started this petition because I believe GMU will only take action if the student body demands it and adamantly rejects this racist conduct.”

The Fourth Estate also noted that the GMU College Republicans joined in on the calls to rescind Brewer’s admission.

“Hugely important to all GMU/NOVA [northern Virginia] area students and citizens. We can not let a Nazi get on our campus,” the group tweeted. “Please go out and sign this petition!”

https://twitter.com/GMUReps/status/1271140379560235008?s=20

The university issued a statement on June 12 stating that it is looking into the matter; on June 16, the George Mason University Life Twitter account tweeted, “In the matter of the student admitted to George Mason University referenced in our previous communication, the matter has been resolved. The individual will not be a student at George Mason University.”

UPDATE: In the matter of the student admitted to George Mason University referenced in our previous communication, the matter has been resolved. The individual will not be a student at George Mason University.

— Mason ULife (@MasonULife) June 16, 2020

Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action Agenda Rabbi Abraham Cooper praised GMU in a statement.

“Simon Wiesenthal Center commends George Mason University for barring [a] white supremacist and neo-Nazi from joining Class of 2024,” Cooper said. “He openly engaged in racist, anti-Semitic, and anti-LGBTQIA+ activities would have been [a] menace to people of color, Jews, LGBTQIA+ students and communities.”

Brewer’s social media accounts appear to have been deleted.