The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill community rallied in the center of campus on Wednesday for – and against – a professor who was involved in an anti-fascist gun club. 

Dwayne Dixon was placed on administrative leave Tuesday over concerns regarding his affiliation 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.” 

In a video obtained by Fox News Digital, Dixon can be seen headlining a 2018 panel hosted by Harvard University’s Carr-Ryan Center for Human Rights and speaking for about 30 minutes about Redneck Revolt’s presence at the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. 

Dixon has faced misdemeanor charges stemming from his participation as a member of Redneck Revolt, though he has not been convicted. He previously was charged with a gun crime in connection with an anti-KKK protest in nearby Durham, North Carolina, in which the KKK was present. In 2018, he was also charged with simple assault on the night a Confederate statue, named “Silent Sam,” was torn down on the UNC campus. Those charges were dropped.

Undated file image of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor, Dwayne Dixon. (WRAL)

Dixon, along with Redneck Revolt, were sued by the city of Charlottesville after the Unite the Right rally, with the city accusing the organization of violating anti-paramilitary law. 

According to a message put up on its website midday Wednesday, Redneck Revolt disbanded in 2019. A page highlighting Dixon’s activism under a tab called “Analysis” was also removed, but has been archived.

Harvard University did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. In a previous statement to Fox News Digital, UNC denounced political violence and vowed to investigate Dixon’s involvement in the organization. 

“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 said in a statement to Fox News Digital Monday afternoon. “Placing Dr. Dixon on leave will allow the University to investigate these allegations in a manner that protects the integrity of its assessment.”