Mom Charged Over Racial Slur Incident at Playgound

A mother from Rochester, Minnesota, involved in a controversial incident where she used a racial slur against a 5-year-old autistic Somali child, is facing formal charges months after the incident went viral.

Shiloh Hendrix has been charged with three counts of disorderly conduct, which could result in up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. The charges stem from a video that captured her vulgar language and hostility at a playground.

Woman holding a child at a playground. Child's face is blurred. — Hendrix hurled a racial slur at a child with autism during the playground incident.

In April, a video circulated online showing Hendrix repeatedly using the N-word to describe the child and doubling down when approached by a concerned adult, Sharmake Omar. Hendrix claimed her actions were justified because she believed the child was rummaging through her belongings.

Following the footage’s release, Hendrix reported experiencing online harassment and launched a fundraising campaign on GiveSendGo, seeking $1 million for her safety after claiming her personal information was leaked by critics. She ultimately raised over $525,000, far exceeding the potential fines related to her charges.

Screenshot of a fundraising campaign created by Hendrix — Hendrix set a $1 million goal to relocate due to online backlash, claiming her private info had been exposed.

Hendrix’s prior criminal record includes offenses such as driving under the influence and disorderly conduct. Authorities have yet to determine her sentencing, pending further review.