FROM FOX NEWS: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor with ties to an anti-fascist gun group has been reinstated after being placed on administrative leave earlier this week over concerns that he was voicing support for political violence.
[Teaching Associate Professor Dwayne] Dixon was placed on administrative leave earlier this week after Fox News Digital reported on his involvement with Redneck Revolt, an organization established in 2016 and described by the Counter Extremism Project as a “far-left group” that “stands against capitalism and the concept of the nation-state, including its symbols such as police, prisons and courts.”
According to the Counter Extremism Project, Redneck Revolt is “an offshoot of the John Brown Gun Club,” which prompted outcry last week after posting flyers at Georgetown University celebrating the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Following the conclusion of the investigation, school officials said they “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.”
“The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has performed a thorough threat assessment of Teaching Associate Professor Dwayne Dixon based on recent reports and expressions of concern that he is an advocate for political violence,” Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing Dean Stoyer said in a statement. “As a result, the University is reinstating Professor Dixon to his faculty responsibilities, effective immediately.”
The decision comes after Dixon and the ACLU of North Carolina pushed back against UNC.
In a letter sent by the ACLU to UNC, legal action was threatened over Dixon’s Constitutional rights being violated.
“If UNC fails to reinstate Professor Dixon and rescind all the restrictions on his speech detailed above, he is prepared to file suit to defend his rights to freely associate and to be free of retaliation and viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment,” the letter read.
Dixon slammed the university in comments to a news outlet.
“I will not be intimidated,” he told the INDY. “With the solidarity and help of so many, I wish to enact another possibility: one of vibrant, conscientious, ethical engagement, without fear of reprisal or silencing.”
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