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A troubling event at a Minnesota playground has provoked outrage and unexpectedly turned controversial after a video showed a woman using a racial slur toward a five-year-old black child, subsequently leading to her raising hundreds of thousands of dollars through online donations.
The video, which went viral, was captured at Soldiers Field Memorial Park in Rochester. It features a white woman with tattoos holding her toddler while being confronted by a man accusing her of using the ‘N-word’ toward a young black boy.
Confronted about the accusation, the woman does not deny it and responds with, ‘If that’s what he’s gonna act like,’ before repeating the slur at the man filming her and making an offensive gesture.
‘So that gives you the right to call the child, 5-years-old, a n*****, the ‘N-word?’ the man asks her incredulously before the two engage in a disturbing back-and-forth.
The confrontation reportedly began after she claimed the child took a toy from her son’s diaper bag.
The video, initially shared by social media influencer Michael McWhorter (known as TizzyEnt), quickly garnered more than 10 million views across social media.
As its reached audiences around the country, the incident has sparked widespread condemnation from community members, civil rights organizations, and local officials.
The Rochester branch of the NAACP launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the child and his family, aiming to raise funds for legal advocacy and broader social justice efforts.
A woman was filmed directing a racial slur at a five-year-old black child – only to later raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in online donations
As of Saturday morning, the campaign for the child and his family had raised over $211,000.
But in a surprising turn, the woman involved in the incident, identifying herself as Shiloh Hendrix, also initiated her own crowdfunding campaign, claiming that the viral video had caused her and her family significant distress and ignited threats.
Her campaign rapidly gained traction has has raised more than $474,000 with a $1 million goal because she had been ‘threatened to the extreme by people online’ and needs to relocate.
‘My name is Shiloh and I have been put into a very dire situation. I recently had a kid steal from my 18 month old son’s diaper bag at a park. I called the kid out for what he was,’ the fundraiser reads.
‘My family members are being attacked. My eldest child may not be going back to school. Even where I exercise has been exposed,’ it continues.
The page goes on to claim that since the video was posted, her Social Security Number has been leaked along with her address and phone number.
‘I fear that we must relocate. I have two small children who do not deserve this. We have been threatened to the extreme by people online. Anything will help! We cannot, and will not live in fear!’ it states.
The woman, Shiloh Hendrix, has since initiated her own crowdfunding campaign, claiming the viral video had caused her and her family significant distress and had resulted in threats
The substantial amount of support show toward Hendrix has drawn criticism, with many questioning the motivations behind the donations and expressing concern over the message it sends regarding accountability for racist behavior.
Wale Elegbede, the president of the Rochester branch of civil rights group the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), said the incident is ‘deeply disturbing and unacceptable.’
Rochester Mayor Kim Norton also addressed the incident, stating, ‘Not In Our Town! Hate has no home here,’ and emphasized the need for the community to do better.
The Rochester Police Department has confirmed that it is actively investigating the incident and gathering information.
Rochester Parks and Recreation said it is aware of the ‘deeply disturbing video’ recorded at one of its parks ‘that contains racial slurs’ and reminded anyone who witnesses such an incident to contact the non-emergency public safety line.
Legal experts have noted that while the woman’s language is protected under the First Amendment, any accompanying threats or actions could potentially lead to charges such as disorderly conduct.
Community leaders and organizations are continuing to advocate for justice and support for the affected child and his family, emphasizing the need for systemic change to address and prevent such incidents in the future.
