Woman accused of using racial slurs against young boy in viral video sparking controversy
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC/Gray News) – A viral video reportedly showing a woman using racial slurs at a Rochester park is now part of a police investigation.
The video in question has been circulating on multiple social media platforms, appearing to show a woman holding a small child making racist slurs about another child at the playground.
KTTC reports the woman accused of using the racial slurs has identified herself publicly in a crowdfunding effort as Shiloh Hendrix.
She claims the boy had taken something that belonged to her child.
According to the crowdfunding site, Hendrix has increased her fundraising goal to $1 million. She says the funds are to protect her family, saying in part, “I fear that we must relocate.”
Regarding the incident at the park, the wrote, “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 person recording the video, later identified as Sharmake Omar, alludes to the child being targeted as having special needs.
Omar said he noticed the woman yelling racial slurs at the 5-year-old boy and felt it was only right to defend the child, record the incident on his phone, and post it on social media.
“If it were my child, I would want somebody else to stand up for him,” Omar said.
With a child of his own on the spectrum, Omar said he felt he did what he thought was right.
The Rochester Police Department confirmed it has received multiple calls about the video and is actively looking into the matter.
The Rochester Branch of the NAA has launched its own crowdfunding campaign with multiple goals, including legal and social justice efforts in of the child and anti-racism work in Rochester.
“Let’s turn outrage into impact. Stand with us. Stand for this child. Justice must be served,” the NAA shared with the fundraising campaign.
Rochester police say they are looking for any potential witnesses to the incident. If anyone has further information, they are urged to them at 507-328-6800.
Copyright 2025 KTTC via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
