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By Shane Croucher and Kate Plummer
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A GiveSendGo fundraiser for Shiloh Hendrix, the mother filmed using a racial slur about a black child during a dispute in a playground, the video of which went viral on social media, has passed $700,000—more than double that of one for the young boy.
A GoFundMe for the boy launched by the Rochester branch of the NAACP, a civil rights organization, has raised just over $341,000 so far.
"Let us be clear: this was not simply offensive behavior—it was an intentional racist, threatening, hateful and verbal attack against a child, and it must be treated as such," the NAACP says in its fundraiser.
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Hendrix says she needs the money to relocate because she fears for the safety of her family as a result of the backlash to the video, which included threats.
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Why It Matters
A video taken in Soldiers Field Memorial Park in Rochester, Minnesota, shows Hendrix using the n-word while arguing with Shamarke Omar, 30, who confronted her about her language towards a Black child. In the video, according to multiple reports, Hendrix claimed the Black child had stolen from her toddler's diaper bag.
The incident is a vignette of the extreme polarization in American society across issues like free speech, racism and online harassment. While she has sparked condemnation from civil rights leaders and lawmakers, Hendrix has also garnered financial support.
In Hendrix's fundraiser, called "Help Me Protect My Family" she said she was in "a very dire situation" and that her personal information, including her address and Social Security number, had been leaked. She added that she and her children faced online threats and "great turmoil" and that she was considering relocating.
But the Rochester NAACP, which has called on authorities to investigate the incident, has called her fundraiser "abhorrent and totally unacceptable."
Newsweek has contacted the Rochester branch of the NAACP by email to comment on this story.
What Happens Next
The Rochester Police Department previously told Newsweek it was looking into the incident, saying: "The Rochester Police Department is aware of the video that was posted on social media and has received multiple calls related to it. We are gathering information and actively looking into the matter."
What People Are Saying
Rochester NAACP President Wale Elegbede told The Minnesota Star Tribune: "Now she's fundraising on this, and that is just abhorrent and totally unacceptable. She needs to face legal consequences for all her actions. This is a disgrace."
The group told The Washington Post: "Shockingly, the woman responsible for this hateful act has launched a fundraising campaign for herself. Many of the comments from her supporters celebrate and justify her hate. We've been asked by countless community members how they can help. This campaign is our answer."
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