UNC Professor Placed on Leave Over Radical Gun Club Ties
UNC seal, 2013. Photo courtesy of Yeungb under CC BY 3.0.
At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a professor's ties with a radical gun group sparked a campus uproar and led to his temporary placement on administrative leave. Dwayne Dixon, a professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, was suspended on September 29, 2025, after reports resurfaced about past political activism involving firearms and his connection to the anti-fascist gun club known as Redneck Revolt.
The university initially announced the leave was necessary to allow for a full investigation into allegations that he had previously advocated politically motivated violence. Dixon was reinstated on October 3, following a threat assessment that reportedly found no evidence he posed a risk to campus safety or had violated university policy.
Radical Roots and Public Advocacy
Dixon's connection to Redneck Revolt is well documented. Founded in 2016, the organization promotes working-class solidarity through mutual aid, anti-racist organizing, and armed training under the name John Brown Gun Clubs, as reported by The Daily Tar Heel. Dixon has publicly advocated armed political action, framing it as self-defense against Nazis, fascists, and white supremacists. At a 2018 Harvard University panel, he described the far-right as "filled with murderous rage" and justified armed resistance as necessary to protect communities, as reported by Fox News.
Dixon has participated in protests while armed. In 2017, he took part in an anti-KKK rally in Durham, North Carolina, carrying a semi-automatic rifle. According to the New York post, he faced misdemeanor charges related to weapon possession and causing public alarm, though these charges were later dropped.
He was also present at the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Dixon recounted how James Fields, the convicted murderer who drove into a crowd killing Heather Heyer, "slow rolled" past him multiple times before accelerating and causing the fatal attack, as reported by the New York Post. Redneck Revolt, along with other groups, was later sued by the city of Charlottesville under anti-paramilitary laws — Redneck Revolt entered into a consent decree to avoid trial.
Campus Reaction and Political Pressure
News of Dixon's suspension quickly drew sharp responses on campus and beyond. Supporters argued that the university had overreacted and infringed on academic freedom, while critics questioned Dixon’s history of political advocacy involving firearms. At a protest in front of UNC's South Building days after the suspension, demonstrators called for Dixon’s reinstatement and accused the administration of taking orders from "fascists," as reported by Fox News.
Jack D'Entremont, a UNC student and member of the campus GOP and Turning Point USA chapters, expressed support for free speech but drew a line at calls for violence. He told WRAL that fighting with words is acceptable, but actual violence is not, emphasizing the need for education on the issue, as reported by Fox News.
A member of TransparUNCy, a group focused on university governance, voiced distrust in the administration's ability to conduct an unbiased investigation, citing the university's handling of protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict as a precedent, according to Fox News.
The controversy unfolded amid heightened political tensions nationwide, with recent violent incidents allegedly linked to left-wing activists, including the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and an attack on a Dallas ICE facility by a gunman with left-wing views.
University's Statement and Investigation
On October 3, UNC reinstated Dixon after concluding a threat assessment. According to a university statement, the investigation found "no basis to conclude that he poses a threat to University students, staff and faculty, or has engaged in conduct that violates University policy," as reported by The Daily Tar Heel. Dixon had reportedly threatened legal action over the suspension, and his reinstatement followed sustained public pressure, protests, and national media attention.
Dixon told The Daily Tar Heel that Redneck Revolt dissolved in 2019 and that he left the Silver Valley chapter in 2018. However, the group's website remains active and does not reference an official disbandment.
Links to Broader Radical Networks
Redneck Revolt is considered an offshoot of the John Brown Gun Club, which has a documented history of political violence. Earlier this year, 12 people linked to the John Brown Gun Club were charged following an attack on an ICE facility in Texas. One suspect, Benjamin Song, was charged with attempted murder of federal agents and firearm offenses. Song was also sued by a right-wing group for alleged violent actions at a drag event, though no criminal charges were filed in that case.
Another John Brown Gun Club member, Willem van Spronsen, died in 2019 after attempting to ignite a propane tank at an ICE detention center. According to the New York Post, his manifesto declared allegiance to Antifa, and he was hailed by some left-wing activists as a martyr.
The recent appearance of John Brown Gun Club recruitment flyers on Georgetown University's campus, celebrating the death of Charlie Kirk, has intensified scrutiny. According to The Daily Tar Heel, the flyers featured the phrase "Hey, Fascist! Catch!" referencing shell casings allegedly linked to Kirk's assassination.
A Campus Battleground in the Culture War
The UNC case highlights the ongoing culture war over intellectual safety, free speech, and political partisanship on college campuses. Dixon's membership in a gun rights group with radical far-left roots challenges traditional narratives about gun activism and political violence.
The university's initial response, placing Dixon on leave pending investigation, contrasted with calls from conservative activists for immediate dismissal without due process. His reinstatement has now sparked broader debate over the boundaries of academic freedom and the role of universities in policing political expression.
As the situation evolves, UNC continues to face pressure from all sides to maintain a balance between safety, speech, and institutional neutrality. The case may serve as a precedent for how higher education institutions respond to faculty participation in contentious political movements.
Whether you cheer the university's caution or jeer it as capitulation to political pressure, the story of Dwayne Dixon and Redneck Revolt remains a vivid example of how deeply political divisions are shaping American higher education today.
References: UNC community divided over professor's Redneck Revolt involvement | UNC professor placed on leave after far-left Redneck Revolt gun club membership exposed | UNC professor placed on leave following alleged affiliation with 'anti-racist, anti-fascist' organization | Professor Dwayne Dixon reinstated by UNC following 'thorough threat assessment' |
