Three Harvard professors once seemed to support the potential for armed left-wing political violence that was presented by a University of North Carolina professor in a 2018 panel.
Professor Dwayne Dixon of UNC at Chapel Hill was placed on leave this week over reports of his affiliation with a far-left Antifa gun club. Dixon took part in the 2018 panel hosted by Harvard University’s Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights, and a video of the event was taken down after the announcement of his administrative leave.
An investigation is underway into reports of Dixon’s membership in the far-left gun club Redneck Revolt, which reportedly advocates armed resistance and recently appeared to celebrate the murder of Charlie Kirk.
(Video Credit: Fox News)
Education Professor Timothy McCarthy, Professor of American History and African American Studies Vincent Brown, and American History Professor Lisa McGirr were part of the 2018 panel that featured Dixon as its star guest, Fox News reported.
“Many of you are aware of the ongoing vigorous debate over whether it’s OK to punch a Nazi. I personally happen to believe that the ethical question was settled by WWII and Raiders of the Lost Ark,” Brown said as he introduced Dixon.
“All four of [the panel members] are committed to study, interpretation, and reasoned debate, but are well aware that deliberation might have distinct limits in the face of opponents who would prefer to see us eliminated,” he added.
FAR-LEFT FALLOUT: The University of North Carolina has placed Dr. Dwayne Dixon on administrative leave following concerns over alleged advocacy of politically motivated violence.
Dixon is an Asian and Middle Eastern Studies professor and also a self-professed member of Redneck… pic.twitter.com/UJ4YHIvY1Z
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 1, 2025
“Dixon headlined the panel, during which he spoke for about 30 minutes about Redneck Revolt’s presence at the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. He made his case for armed political action, billed as self-defense against violent Nazis, White supremacists, and fascists.” Fox News reported. “During his speech, Dixon framed armed political action in the United States in 2018 inside the context of the era of American slavery, when violent means were used to achieve political goals.”
Fox News noted that the Harvard faculty members did not attempt “to distinguish real neo-Nazi groups from everyday right-leaning Americans.”
McCarthy reportedly remarked that “this may indeed be a moment that calls for a more robust integration of tactics and strategies that include both violence and nonviolence.”
McGirr gushed over Dixon’s speech.
“This was a beautiful, brilliant, wonderful, very convincing talk. So, you know, I actually came in here relatively skeptical about your use of, you know, coming armed to Charlottesville, and what happened in North Carolina,” she said. “And at the end, I’m kind of convinced, actually, you know, that there is a place for this.”
Fox News reported that the Harvard professors were asked “whether they condemn political violence. None returned requests for comment.”
“The University of North Carolina has informed Dr. Dwayne Dixon, professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, that he has been placed on administrative leave, effective immediately, following recent reports and expressions of concern regarding alleged advocacy of politically motivated violence,” Vice Chancellor for Marketing and Communications Dean Stoyer told Fox News Digital in a statement earlier this week.
“Placing Dr. Dixon on leave will allow the University to investigate these allegations in a manner that protects the integrity of its assessment,” Stoyer added.
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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