A Minnesota mother convicted of disorderly conduct for using a racial slur at a playground is appealing the misdemeanor conviction, asserting that the punishment infringes on protected speech.
Shiloh Hendrix, 37, was found guilty in July of one count of disorderly conduct arising from a 2025 incident. During the confrontation, she used the n‑word toward a man who was filming her while she carried her toddler, after initially directing the slur at a Somali boy who had taken items from her diaper bag. The exchange escalated when the videographer demanded she repeat the word.
Following the incident, Hendrix’s personal information was publicly disclosed, leading to threats against her family. More than $850,000 was raised in response to the threats and legal proceedings.
She faced disorderly conduct charges related to both the child and the videographer. A jury acquitted her of the charge involving the child but convicted her for the interaction with the videographer, identified as Sharmarke Omar, a Somali TikTok user.
The court sentenced Hendrix to a $1,000 fine, 200 hours of community service, and a stayed 90‑day jail term.
Her attorney filed an appeal with the Minnesota Court of Appeals on July 30, arguing that the conviction constitutes an unconstitutional punishment of speech.
