North Carolina Detention Officer Fired After “I Am Antifa” Social Media Post

NC Detention Officer Fired For Antifa Post on Social Media

A North Carolina detention officer has been fired after publicly declaring allegiance to the Antifa movement in a viral social media post.

On Monday, September 22, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office announced the termination of Brian Edwards, a now-former officer, after internal investigations concluded that his statement violated multiple department policies.

The controversy began when Edwards took to Bluesky, a decentralized social media platform, and wrote:

“I am Antifa. And I will never comply with a fascist regime.”

The post quickly gained traction. As the backlash intensified, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) placed Edwards on administrative leave and launched a formal review of his conduct.

Following the investigation, the department cited multiple violations—including the Standards of Conduct and the office’s rules concerning Speech, Expression, and Social Networking.

The sheriff’s office deemed the statement incompatible with the responsibilities and public trust required of law enforcement personnel.

In a press release, Sheriff Charles Blackwood said:

“Our duty is to protect, serve, and treat everyone with dignity and respect. The words and actions of our officers—on and off duty—must reflect that mission. When public trust is at stake, we must act decisively.”

The sheriff made it clear that while freedom of speech is protected, it does not override the internal codes of conduct that officers agree to when joining the department.

Edwards Responds

While Edwards has not made a formal public statement, he told local media that he “disagreed with how the office handled the matter” but declined to elaborate further.