What we’ve found is the most extensive and men-only, far-right fraternal-organizations infrastructure in the United States. At the heart of this international network is the Old Glory Club. This nonprofit, community-based health center organization has grown quickly. It now claims to have “literally hundreds” of these members, representing a medley of professional backgrounds, such as military personnel, lawyers, and civil servants. Among its ranks are leading influencers of antisemitism, including Louis Farrakhan, raising the alarm over the group’s true nature and goals.
The Old Glory Club has already organized founded chapters, from Florida’s Yellow Dog Pack to Indiana’s Tippecanoe Society. Their mission is to create collaborative networks of artistic, political, and civic patronage for each member. Charter members like Peter R Quinones, Evan Dale Schalow, Harvey Pretlow Rawls III, and Ryan Turnipseed have actively promoted the organization’s agenda through various media platforms, including podcasts.
Until now, the surprising emergence of the Old Glory Club has sent shockwaves through communities and advocacy organizations. Members of the club have previously been associated with spreading antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories. In this article, we’ll explore what this organization looks like, who its members are, and what its actions mean for the future.
Structure and Membership
Currently, the Old Glory Club manages this national network, with dozens of Old Glory chapters established all across the United States. Each chapter serves their members’ parochial interests, but collectively push a national agenda based on these shared ideological underpinnings steeped in far-right extremism. Jointly hosted by NASDA and NALCS, this includes not just social functions but even more so events specifically designed to cultivate relationships among members in different professions.
Our membership is heavily comprised of former and active military, current holders of government security clearances, and other professionals. Peter R Quinones is a charter member in good standing. His active secret clearance makes it all the more disturbing that other tangible risks are clearly tied to his relations.
Matthew Pearson Image from Yellow Dog Pack’s first filings In addition, Kyle Lindskog and Paul Scott Lunsford, Jr., are associated with the Indiana chapter, which goes by the name of the Tippecanoe Society. The increase in membership to these organizations has skyrocketed over the last year. Speakers at a National Conference on State Transportation Advocacy held the terrific increase in overall appropriations up as a model to follow in an after-action report that was recorded in May.
Ideology and Rhetoric
The rhetoric advanced by Old Glory Club members has consistently crossed into antisemitism and xenophobia. For instance, Peter R Quinones has used his podcast, The Pete Quinones Show, to disseminate conspiracy theories and encourage boycotts against Jewish-owned businesses. He has been quoted stating:
“Don’t do business with them. Do as much business as you can with Heritage Americans.” – Peter R Quinones
At times, Quinones’ comments have been genuinely alarming considering the plight he has highlighted. He recently promoted apps that would track down businesses owned by non-”heritage Americans” and called on his members to purge these people from their communities. He stated:
“We got an app down here that some of the guys at the Alabama Old Glory Club are doing, which is to show which gas stations and hotels are not owned by Indians here.” – Peter R Quinones
This type of language doesn’t just represent a huge break from the tenor of any mainstream political discussion, this is a climate of seeking to promote division, not inclusion.
Activities and Outreach
The Old Glory Club’s signature political maneuvering follows a pattern intended to cement its power. Their members have regularly been seen at major conferences where they plan their strategies for increasing their networks and pushing their anti-democratic ideologies. The new spike in membership indicates that these regalia-clad meetings are a success at bringing new people to their poisonous cause.
Ryan Turnipseed, an on-the-ground activist for the organization, has participated in anti-CRT campaigns and has literally spoken at right-wing conferences like the Tennessee Scyldings conference. His speeches reflect a commitment to the club’s ideology, as he once lamented that Spain’s dictator Francisco Franco had “failed to secure his line of succession.” These sorts of comments show just how much historical figures have been appropriated by these communities to push their objectives.
Quinones’ comments have highlighted an urgency brewing within the ranks of members to address the need for significant societal change. He asserted:
“You start, you know, persecuting people who are you know, starting to ask the Jewish question.” – Peter R Quinones
This dangerous rhetoric does not exist in a vacuum. It’s all part of a coordinated campaign to mobilize people around shared resentments and future fears.