Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Rochester Branch of the NAACP is calling on Rochester Police, the City Attorney's Office, and the Olmsted County Attorney's Office to launch a full investigation and to file all appropriate charges in the case of a woman video recorded saying racial slurs at a city park.

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A viral social media video shows the woman being confronted and accused of verbally assaulting a young child. She is accused of directing a racist slur at the child and then is shown repeating it to the person confronting and recording her.

READ MORE: VIDEO: Rochester, MN Woman Calls a Child a Racial Slur at Park

The local NAACP issued a statement concerning the incident today.

Let us be clear: this was not simply offensive behavior—it was an intentional racist, threatening, hateful and verbal attack against a child, and it must be treated as such.
Public parks should be safe, inclusive spaces for children and families—not sites of hate and trauma. The Rochester Branch of the NAACP takes this matter with the utmost seriousness and is committed to pursuing justice and accountability.

The civil rights organization is calling on anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the Rochester Branch of the NAACP.

The NAACP statement says there has been "a disturbing increase in racially motivated attacks across Rochester" over the past year. It points to a display of racist slurs on the pedestrian bridge near Century High School, racist vandalism at a Rochester State Representative's home and an incident during which a news and effigy were displayed to intimidate a Black family.

ALSO SEE:  Citizens Rally to Rebuke Racist Message on Rochester Pedestrian Bridge

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“This is a very serious situation, and we are treating it as such,” said Rochester Branch of the NAACP President Walé Elegbede. “A public park should be a place of joy and safety. What we witnessed in that video was vile, hate speech, dehumanizing, and racist. Since the incident surfaced, I’ve corresponded and spoken with legal representatives from our local branch, our regional NAACP Minnesota and Dakotas Area State Conference, and the National NAACP to determine appropriate next steps. Our children are sacred—and our community demands accountability.”

 

President Elegbede added, “Last year, following a rise in hate incidents, I said: ‘Not in our town will children feel unsafe. Not in our town will racism be tolerated. Not in our town will hatred find a home. And in our town, love wins.’ In order for this to be a reality, however, it requires accountability and justice. When no one is held accountable for such despicable acts, it sends the message that this behavior is acceptable. We reject that notion entirely. For Black people and all people of color to thrive in Rochester, we must ensure safety, dignity, and justice for every member of our community.”

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