Dr. Dwayne Dixon, a faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been placed on administrative leave following his involvement with a far-left gun club.
According to a statement from Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications Dean Stoyer released to Fox News Digital, “Dr. Dixon has been notified of his immediate administrative leave after recent concerns were raised regarding his alleged support for politically motivated violence. This leave will allow the university to conduct a thorough investigation into these claims while maintaining the integrity of the assessment process.”
The statement went on to say, “Depending on the findings of the investigation, this conduct may lead to disciplinary measures that could include termination of employment in accordance with the standards detailed in the Trustee Policies and Regulations Governing Academic Tenure at UNC Chapel Hill and UNC practices.”
“The duration of the administrative leave has not yet been established, as it will depend on the time needed to comprehensively evaluate the allegations and conduct an investigation if warranted,” the statement continued.
Stoyer emphasized, “The University remains committed to fostering rigorous debate, constructive engagement, and open dialogue in favor of free speech. The UNC community does not condone inciting or displaying support for violence of any kind.”
Dr. Dixon, who teaches Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, is listed on his biography page and is reportedly a self-identified member of the Silver Valley chapter of Redneck Revolt.
Described by the Counter Extremism Project as a “far-left group,” Redneck Revolt opposes capitalism and the nation-state, challenging symbols such as police, prisons, and courts.
In 2017, Dr. Dixon was part of a demonstration in Durham, North Carolina, that was characterized as an anti-KKK rally, although the KKK did not intentionally attend. Armed with a semi-automatic rifle, he was accused of obstructing roads “while armed,” which raised public safety concerns.
Dixon faced charges of possessing a weapon during a public assembly and endangering others, both misdemeanors that were later dropped.
He also participated in the 2017 neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which turned deadly when James Fields drove into a crowd, resulting in the death of Heather Heyer.
During a Harvard University panel, Dixon recounted how Fields drove by him multiple times, stating, “One time he paused right in front of me, and I waved him off with my rifle. On another pass, he accelerated and killed Heather a block away.”
Following the rally, legal action was taken by the city of Charlottesville and local businesses against Dixon and several other groups, citing violations of anti-paramilitary laws and public nuisance regulations.
Redneck Revolt settled with the city to avoid a trial, as the court’s decision weeks prior to dismiss a motion indicated the suit would proceed.
The organization had support from the National Lawyer’s Guild, which labelled the legal action as “harassment” against anti-racist activists.
In 2018, Dixon faced simple assault charges related to the unrest surrounding the removal of the Silent Sam statue on UNC’s campus, but those were also dismissed.
The Counter Extremism Project notes that Redneck Revolt is an extension of the John Brown Gun Club, which gained notoriety for distributing recruitment materials at Georgetown University linked to the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Stickers associated with the group infamously proclaimed, “Hey fascist! Catch this!”—a phrase allegedly connected to writing found on bullet shells by the suspect in Kirk’s death.
Documents also highlighted a QR code leading to a manifesto calling for community engagement against “ceremonial resistance.”
The John Brown Gun Club is known for its history of involvement in politically charged violence.
Earlier this year, multiple arrests occurred after an assault on an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas, which included a long-time Antifa member charged with multiple counts related to attempted murder of federal agents.
Another incident involved a member attempting to bomb an ICE detention center, proclaiming allegiance to Antifa before being shot and killed by law enforcement.
