University Professor Keeps Job After Inciting Violence With Post: ‘Blow Up Republicans’ On Facebook
On social media last month, a professor at the University of North Carolina Wilmington publicly advocated for violence against Republicans. He does not seem to be in risk of losing his job, however.
According to Campus Reform, Dan Johnson, an associate professor at the university’s School of Health and Applied Human Sciences, posted on Facebook on May 17 the message “Blow up Republicans”
The message has now been removed, but not before many students saw it and reacted — and not before a conservative news source took a screenshot.
EXCLUSIVE: UNC Wilmington prof posts 'Blow Up Republicans' on Facebookhttps://t.co/OwbLDNKEnT
— Campus Reform (@campusreform) June 24, 2021
Johnson supposedly updated his Facebook status again two days after making the post, this time with the message, “Time for my summer break from Facebook.Johnson’s initial post was apparently viewed by both students and university officials.
“The university was made aware of the post and has appropriately addressed it.” according to Andrea Monroe Weaver, the university’s communications officer.
Weaver did not elaborate on the university’s responses to the event, but the university subsequently verified to the news source that Johnson would continue to teach in the autumn.
TheBlaze contacted the school about the situation with the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
In response, Weaver said the the outlet:
“UNCW was made aware of a now-deleted social media post made by a UNCW faculty member on a personal platform. The university acted on the information in a timely and appropriate manner. The faculty member expressed deep remorse and deleted the post.”
“Any hateful language by faculty, staff or students aimed at others is contrary to our university values and our commitment to an environment of respect and dignity. It is absolutely reprehensible. However, no matter how upsetting and distasteful such comments may be, they are expressions of free speech and protected by the First Amendment unless they represent a true threat. UNCW reviews any perceived threats that are brought to our attention. We have determined that the conduct and now-deleted post at issue do not contain any evidence of a true threat toward any members of our community.”
Haylie Davis, one of the school’s students, believes the institution is not treating the event seriously enough.
“Putting away any personal political preference aside, I think this matter should be addressed and dealt [with] in the same manner that it would be if the word ‘Republican’ was replaced with any other word. If the post stated ‘Blow up women,’ ‘Blow up homosexuals,’ ‘Blow up Catholics,’ etc.,” Davis told Campus Reform.
“He not only represents a major university in the state of North Carolina, but he also represents a program of the university that prides itself in inclusivity,” she stated.
“That statement is not something that represents an inclusive and accepting environment. In his position, political preference should not be expressed in such an aggressive manner that lacks the ’empathy’ that is expected and valued in today’s society and on college campuses,” she added.
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