Shiloh Hendrix, a 36-year-old mother from Rochester, Minnesota, is set to face trial after being charged with three counts of disorderly conduct. The charges stem from a deeply disturbing incident in which she repeatedly directed a racial slur at a 5-year-old Black boy with autism during a confrontation in a playground.
According to the complaint, Hendrix shouted the slur while accusing the child of taking an applesauce pouch from her own child’s diaper bag. When another bystander confronted her for using such hateful language, she doubled down — admitting to using the word and justifying it by claiming, “I can call him that if he acts like one.”
In the wake of the viral video, Hendrix launched a fundraising campaign, claiming that her personal information had been exposed online and that she was under threat. Her fundraiser garnered hundreds of thousands of dollars, drawing widespread attention and criticism.
Hendrix has pleaded not guilty to all counts. Her case has sparked intense debate, touching on issues of race, ableism, public outrage, and how social media can amplify both hate and support.
Her trial is scheduled to begin on August 31, 2026, with a pre-trial hearing set for August 21.
