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A fundraiser for the Minnesota woman at the center of a viral playground confrontation involving an autistic Black child has seen renewed support following her criminal trial verdict, with supporters continuing to donate and some leaving messages containing racist language.
Shiloh Hendrix was found guilty of one count of disorderly conduct by a Rochester jury following the April 2025 incident, in which video showed her directing a racial slur toward an 8-year-old Black child at a Rochester playground.
The incident took place at Soldiers Field Memorial Park in Rochester and was captured on video that later spread widely across social media. The footage shows Hendrix using the N-word during an argument with a man who confronted her about her remarks toward the child. Hendrix can be heard repeating the slur and defending her actions by alleging that the child had taken an item from her toddler’s diaper bag.
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Child Has History of Wandering Away
At the time, the child’s family said the encounter was racially motivated and particularly harmful given the child’s age and autism diagnosis. The boy’s father, Shire Jimale, testified that his son has a history of wandering away and taking items that do not belong to him due to his autism. Jimale said the child wears a law enforcement-issued GPS tracker to help authorities locate him, MPR News reported.
The case drew national attention, dividing online users between those who condemned Hendrix’s actions and those who argued she had been unfairly targeted after the video went viral.
Following the incident, Hendrix launched a GiveSendGo fundraiser titled "Help Me Protect My Family Shiloh Hendrix Official." She said the fundraiser was created after she and her family were targeted online, had personal information exposed and needed financial assistance to relocate for their safety.
Following the verdict, Hendrix’s fundraiser has received a new influx of donations. The campaign, which launched last year, has now raised more than $920,000 toward its $1 million goal, according to the page.
In an update posted to the page on Saturday, Hendrix said she would appeal the verdict.
"We all know the verdict. We all know how unfair and unjust it is. This is why I will be appealing. Things are already in motion to do so. I will never stop fighting," she said.
In an emailed statement to Newsweek on Sunday, a spokesperson for the City of Rochester said: "The Rochester City Attorney’s Office has no control over fundraising efforts by Ms. Hendrix."
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No Charges Related to Racial Slur
Hendrix was not convicted of a charge specifically related to using the racial slur against the child. Jurors instead found her guilty of disorderly conduct connected to her confrontation with the man who recorded the incident, while acquitting her on another charge stemming from the encounter.
She was sentenced immediately after the verdict was delivered, receiving a $1,000 fine, probation and an order to complete community service. Although she initially faced a possible 90-day jail sentence, she will not serve time behind bars unless she violates the terms of her probation.
Her defense attorney, Brian Karalus, said he plans to appeal the verdict.
'Showing No Remorse'
In a statement issued Friday morning, as reported by MPR News, the Rochester city attorney addressed the verdict against Hendrix and acknowledged "what has made this incident so painful for many, in our community."
"Ms. Hendrix fully admitted to her hateful and racist conduct, toward a child with a disability and others, and she has profited immensely while showing no remorse," the city attorney said.
Scrutiny of the Comments
The renewed support for Hendrix's fundraiser has also brought further scrutiny of the messages left by some donors.
A review of publicly visible comments on the fundraiser found messages from supporters defending Hendrix, including comments such as "fight for free speech," alongside others containing racist remarks and attacks targeting racial groups. One donor wrote: "Long live America! Get these foreign invaders out!"
Similar comments appeared during an earlier wave of donations after the incident went viral, prompting criticism and moderation changes on the fundraising platform.
GiveSendGo previously disabled comments on the fundraiser following concerns over inappropriate messages and later restricted some public donor information.
GiveSendGo Defends Its Actions
The platform defended its decision to continue hosting the fundraiser following the verdict, saying that allowing a campaign on its website does not represent an endorsement of the person, their words or their actions.
"Hosting a fundraiser has never been an endorsement of a person, their words, or their actions," GiveSendGo said in a statement. "It is not a declaration of innocence, and it is not a political statement."
GiveSendGo added that it hosts lawful fundraisers "across the full spectrum of cases" and that the decision over who receives support ultimately rests with donors.
After the verdict, the fundraiser’s continued growth highlighted the ongoing divide surrounding the case, with supporters framing the donations as assistance for a woman they believe was targeted online, while critics argue the money represents support for conduct they consider racist.
Hendrix has not publicly commented on the latest surge in donations following the verdict. In a post on the fundraiser last month, before the verdict was delivered, Hendrix wrote: "I know many of you know that the motion to dismiss my charges was denied. I was hopeful that the law would prevail, but our two-tiered justice system thought otherwise."
Fundraiser Launched for the Child
Shortly after the incident, the Rochester branch of the NAACP (National Association for Advancement of Colored People) launched a fundraiser to support the family, which raised more than $330,000. The funds have since been placed in a trust for the child.
Following the verdict, in a statement released Friday, Rochester NAACP said: "Today marks an important step toward accountability in our community. While the verdict in the Shiloh Hendrix case was not the complete outcome we had hoped for, it sends a clear message that bias-motivated conduct has consequences.
We are grateful that the jury found Ms. Hendrix guilty on one count of disorderly conduct and that she was held criminally accountable for her actions. Today, Ms. Hendrix now has a criminal conviction on her record and has been sentenced to probation, a fine and 200 hours of community service. Finally, we have seen racism held accountable."
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: John Fitzpatrick and Edward Pearcey.
Update, 07/27/26 04:19 a.m. ET: this article was updated with additional information.
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