UNC-CH professor facing assault charge from night Silent Sam was toppled
A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor is facing an assault charge in connection with the melee that occurred nearly two weeks ago when the controversial Silent Sam statue was toppled on the school's campus.
Law enforcement authorities said Dwayne Dixon, 46, of Durham, has been charged with simple assault following the Aug. 20 rally that resulted with Silent Sam being felled from the perch it had long stood upon. Simple assault means no weapons were used and no one was seriously hurt during the incident.
It was not immediately clear if a victim filed the report or if police officers witnessed the incident when it occurred.
According to the police report, a court date of Sept. 27 has been set for Dixon to appear and answer to the charge.
School officials confirmed to WRAL News Tuesday that Dixon works as a teaching assistant professor in the Department of Asian Studies and a lecturer in the school's Anthropology Department.
Parth Gujare, one of Dixon's students says that he often brings up politics in class.
"I think that like professors have their own stuff outside of class as people, but they shouldn't bring it into the classroom," Gujare said. "I don't think their political views have to be brought into class."
Since the statue fell, more than a dozen people have been charged following two additional protests between protesters who want the statue gone and supporters who want it returned.
On Aug. 20, more than 200 protesters first gathered at the Peace and Justice Plaza at about 7 p.m., before marching to the base of the statue, calling for its removal. By 9:30 p.m., the statue was on the ground and the crowd erupted in cheers.
The action has prompted an enormous amount of controversy among those who don't the statue returned and those who want to bring it back.
UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol Folt and the university's Board of Trustees have until mid-November to present a plan for the future of the statue to the Board of Governors.
