Minnesota Legislature
PRESS RELEASE
Rochester Delegation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 1, 2025
Senate Contact: Jack Vinck | jack.vinck@mnsenate.gov | 612-440-6056
House Contact: Marlee Schlegel | marlee.schlegel@house.mn.gov | 651-296-9873
Lawmakers Respond to Viral Video of Rochester Woman Attacking Child with Racial Slurs
ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Wednesday, April 30, a video went viral on social media of a Rochester woman directing racial slurs towards children at a playground. In the video, a man records himself confronting the woman for using the slur, to which she responds by repeating it.
In response, state lawmakers representing the Rochester area – Senator Liz Boldon (DFL-Rochester), Representative Andy Smith (DFL-Rochester), Representative Kim Hicks (DFL-Rochester), and Representative Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester) – released the following statement:
“We commend the gentleman who recorded the encounter for standing up and protecting one of our youngest community members, a five-year-old boy, from this targeted hate. We condemn these vile acts of racism in the strongest way possible. This disgusting rhetoric has no place in our community, and we’re grateful that a bystander took action and prevented further escalation by the perpetrator.
“This type of learned hate has been fueled by the Trump Administration’s own rhetoric, empowering those with hate in their heart to shamelessly spread it around. This has created real consequences for our friends, family members, and neighbors. We must all take the initiative to call out hatred and bigotry wherever we see it and have conversations with those close to us, including our children, about why we must not follow in the footsteps of these bullies, no matter if they’re in the White House or on the playground.”
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