Shiloh Hendrix convicted of disorderly conduct for playground racial slur in Rochester, Minnesota

A Rochester, Minnesota jury reached a split verdict in July 2026 in the case of Shiloh Hendrix, who was filmed using a racial slur toward an 8‑year‑old Somali boy at Roy Sutherland Playground in April 2025. The incident, captured by bystander Sharmake Omar, showed Hendrix repeatedly calling the child the n‑word after he took an applesauce pouch from her diaper bag.

The jury found Hendrix guilty on one count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct related to her exchange with Omar and acquitted her of the charge involving the child. She was sentenced to a $1,000 fine, 200 hours of community service, one year of supervised probation, and a 90‑day jail term that was stayed. Defense attorney Brian Karalus argued the conviction violated the First Amendment, while prosecutors said the conduct disturbed the peace. The trial drew protests and commentary on free‑speech limits, with the NAACP and public observers weighing in on the case.

Key facts quoted from coverage: “The jury convicted her of disorderly conduct related to her verbal altercation with Sharmake Omar” and “She was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, 90 days of stayed jail time, one year of supervised probation, and 200 hours of community service.”