UNC Chapel Hill Suspends Professor Amid Allegations of Advocating Violence

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has placed Dr. Dwayne Dixon, a professor specializing in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, on immediate administrative leave amid concerns about his alleged promotion of politically motivated violence.

According to a university spokesperson, the decision allows an investigation into reports and claims that Dixon supported violent actions for political reasons. The investigation’s length will depend on the findings, and disciplinary measures could include termination if the allegations are substantiated.

The university emphasized its commitment to free speech and respectful debate, asserting that inciting violence or sympathizing with it will not be tolerated within the campus community.

Dr. Dixon is also known for his association with Redneck Revolt, a far-left gun group that opposes capitalism and the nation-state, including symbols like police and prisons. His biography indicates he has participated in protests, including one in Durham in 2017, where he was armed with a semi-automatic rifle during an anti-KKK rally. Charges related to that event were eventually dismissed.

He was also present at the 2017 Charlottesville rally, where he recounted an encounter with vehicle-ramming suspect James Fields. Dixon claimed he waved off Fields with his rifle as the man’s vehicle passed multiple times before killing Heather Heyer. The same group, Redneck Revolt, faced lawsuits for allegedly breaking laws related to paramilitary activity during protests and entered into a consent decree to avoid trial.

In 2018, Dixon was charged with misdemeanor offenses related to unrest during the removal of Silent Sam, a Confederate statue, charge later dismissed.

The group has a history of involvement in militant activities, with members connected to violent incidents such as the 2019 attempt to bomb an ICE detention center, which resulted in the death of Willem van Spronsen. Van Spronsen left a manifesto declaring himself “Antifa” and was considered a martyr by some on the left.

The university’s action follows heightened scrutiny of Dixon’s associations and activities, including the distribution of provocative flyers at other institutions advocating against perceived fascists, and his history of outspoken, sometimes militant activism.