Shiloh Hendrix, a white woman from Minnesota, who went viral after she was caught on camera using a racial slur sgainst a 5-year-old child at a park on 28 April, has received unexpected support—more than $790,000 in online donations. The money came through GiveSendGo, a platform known for hosting fundraisers linked to far-right causes. Her campaign drew over 30,000 supporters, many of whom left donation messages containing racial slurs and Nazi symbols.
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In her fundraiser description, Hendrix wrote: “My name is Shiloh and I have been put into a very dire situation. I recently had a kid steal from my 18-month-old son’s diaper bag at a park. I called the kid out for what he was. Another man, whom we recently found out has had a history with law enforcement, proceeded to record me and follow me to my car. He then posted these videos online, which have caused my family and me great turmoil… My eldest child may not be going back to school. Even where I exercise has been exposed.”
In later posts, Hendrix thanked donors and said the fundraiser was life-changing. “We have a wonderful support team on our side… We can now work on starting a new life. Amazing things can happen when like-minded individuals work together. We have proven just how powerful and great we are,” she wrote.Hendrix case reflects a wider shift in the US since Donald Trump’s political rise. Such statements and the support that followed have alarmed critics. Between 2016 and 2022, extremist-linked campaigns on platforms like GiveSendGo raised more than $6 million, according to Anti-Defamation League. Mark Dwyer from the Anti-Defamation League said this kind of crowdfunding is no longer limited to organised far-right groups. It also attracts everyday people who may not see racism as a problem. “They don’t view what she did as wrong. For many, this might be the first action they take beyond posting on social media—donating money to show support,” The Guardian quoted Dwyer as saying.GiveSendGo has defended hosting the fundraiser, saying to The Guardian it supports “personal choice” even in controversial cases. “GiveSendGo is not a place of judgment but a place of generosity,” a spokesperson said.
