Take Action: How to Push Back Against a Hate-Fueled Fundraiser in Rochester, MN
This isn’t free speech. It’s profit from prejudice—and it’s time to shut it down.
Swell
May 04, 2025
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A woman in Rochester, Minnesota was recently caught on video yelling racial slurs at a 5-year-old Black autistic child in a public park. Now, a campaign on GiveSendGo is raising thousands of dollars in her defense—drawing support from white supremacist sympathizers and fueling an ugly wave of online hate.
This guide outlines exactly what you can do to fight back—by reporting this campaign to the payment processors, regulators, and institutions involved.
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Let’s be clear: this isn’t about censorship. This is about
platforms enforcing their own policies against hate and protecting the dignity of our community. Here's how to take action.
Good Before the Good Trouble
Before we get into the busy work, let’s name the folks who
showed up first—not with vague platitudes, but with
actual action.
The Rochester NAACP didn’t wait. They called it what it was:
a racist, hateful, verbal attack on a child. They’ve condemned the act publicly, demanded full accountability from local authorities, and are actively supporting the affected family—not just with words, but with care and direct action. Donate to
NAACP's Rochester Branch Fighting Fund for Freedom if you can, or
volunteer at the
NAACP near you.
Donate to the
Go Fund Me campaign for the 5-year-old child and his family.
DFL lawmakers including Senator Liz Boldon and Representatives Kim Hicks, Tina Liebling, and Andy Smith released an immediate joint statement condemning the incident. No dancing around it. No PR gymnastics. Just a clear call to name the hate and confront it head-on.
KTTC News didn’t just break the story—they reported it
to the Rochester Police Department and demanded answers. They moved fast and responsibly, putting public safety, accountability, and truth above ratings. That’s real journalism.
1. Contact Stripe (Payment Processor)
Stripe explicitly prohibits the use of their services for hate, racism, or violence. From their
Prohibited and Restricted Businesses policy:
“You may not use the Stripe Services for... content or businesses that promote hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, terrorism, racial or other forms of intolerance.”
To report a violation:
- Go to: https://support.stripe.com/contact
- Select: “Report abuse or violations”
- Include:
- The URL of the platform or fundraiser (e.g., GiveGetGo.com)
- A clear description of the racist or discriminatory content
- Any supporting evidence (screenshots, archive links, etc.)
Stripe’s U.S. Headquarters (if mailing documentation):
Stripe, Inc.
Legal Department
354 Oyster Point Blvd
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Step 1A: File a Complaint with the California Attorney General
Stripe is headquartered in California, which means the
California Attorney General can investigate and act on complaints against the company.
Anyone can file. You do NOT need to be a California resident.
The California AG’s job is to hold
California-based companies accountable—
not just to Californians, but to anyone harmed by their practices.
To file a complaint:
California Department of Justice
Attn: Public Inquiry Unit
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
When submitting your complaint, include:
- The name and website of the platform
- A brief explanation of how it promotes hate or racism
- Any screenshots or archived evidence
- (Optional) Your contact information for follow-up
Why Multiple Complaints Matter
Let’s be clear:
One complaint gets logged. Ten complaints start a file.
Hundreds? That demands action.
When multiple people report:
- It shows a pattern of harm, not just a one-off issue
- It creates public pressure on Stripe to enforce its own rules
- It signals to the AG’s office that this isn’t a private dispute—it’s a public concern
If you're angry about racist fundraisers exploiting payment tools for hate—
don’t just comment. Report it. Share this post. Send it to friends. Every single complaint matters.
2. File a Complaint with the Minnesota Attorney General
Why it matters:
The Attorney General's office can investigate unfair or discriminatory practices, especially when they harm vulnerable members of the public.
What to say:
Describe the situation factually. Mention the child’s age, the use of racial slurs, the campaign’s fundraising success, and that you believe this raises serious ethical and possibly legal questions. You're asking the state to investigate whether the fundraiser violates any civil rights or consumer protection laws.
How to file a complaint:
- Online form: Consumer Assistance Request
- Phone (Twin Cities): 651-296-3353
- Phone (Toll-Free): 800-657-3787
- Mailing Address:
Office of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison
445 Minnesota Street, Suite 600
St. Paul, MN 55101
3. Report to the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division
Why it matters:
This is the federal agency charged with enforcing anti-discrimination laws. Whether they’ll actually act is... anyone’s guess. The federal government feels pretty FUBAR right now, and with Trumpism on the march, there’s no guarantee this won’t get buried. But still—reporting never hurts.
How to report:
- Online complaint form: Federal Civil Rights Complaint
- Phone: 202-514-3847 or Toll-Free 855-856-1247
- Mailing Address:
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
What to include:
Describe the hate incident, the age and disability status of the child involved, the public reaction, and the role of the fundraiser in amplifying the harm. Ask them to investigate whether this violates federal civil rights protections.
4. Report to Cloudflare (Web Infrastructure Provider)
Why it matters:
Cloudflare provides protection and delivery services to GiveSendGo. While they are
not the web host or content owner, they do enable the site’s speed and resilience against takedown attempts.
Let’s be real:
Cloudflare has a long history of refusing to act against sites that host hate speech unless there's a direct threat of violence or legal liability. They explicitly state that they won’t deplatform a site
just for racist content. So yes—this is a long shot. But still worth the old college try.
How to report:
What to include:
Link to the campaign and a brief explanation of the racial slurs directed at a Black autistic child. Note that this campaign is raising funds to support the individual responsible and is drawing openly racist, white supremacist support.
5. Notify Local Banks and Credit Unions in Rochester, MN
Why it matters:
GiveSendGo fundraisers typically connect to a bank account on the recipient’s end. Since the woman involved lives in Rochester, Minnesota, it’s highly likely that one of the city’s local banks or credit unions is receiving these funds.
We are
not asking anyone to access private banking data. That would be illegal and unethical. This is about writing a respectful letter as a concerned citizen—alerting these institutions to a possible connection between one of their accounts and a high-profile hate incident. Banks have reputational and legal risks tied to facilitating hate-driven funding, and many have internal policies prohibiting it.
What to say:
You are not requesting any private account information. You are simply alerting the institution about the fundraiser and the incident, and urging them to review internally for compliance and liability.
Suggested institutions to contact:
- U.S. Bank
- Associated Bank
- Bremer Bank
- Think Bank
- Sterling State Bank
- Premier Bank
- Eagle Rock Bank
- Home Federal Savings Bank
- Minnwest Bank
- Merchants Bank
- Foresight Bank
- MBT Bank
- Minnesota First Credit and Savings
- West Bank
- Altra Federal Credit Union
- Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union
- First Alliance Credit Union
- Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union
- Wings Financial Credit Union
You can find a sample letter, mailing addresses and contact forms for each bank here Link Expires in 1 month.
TL;DR
1. Contact Square:
Report policy violations by the campaign.
2. Contact the MN Attorney General:
MN Attorney General
Push for investigation into consumer protection and civil rights issues.
3. Report to the DOJ Civil Rights Division:
Federal Civil Rights Complaint
A long shot, but worth doing.
4. Report to Cloudflare:
File a complaint with Cloudflare
Don’t expect a miracle, but go for it.
5. Contact Rochester-area banks and credit unions:
Send general alerts. Ask them to internally review whether they’re facilitating this hate-driven campaign.
Let’s call this what it is: a fundraiser built on hate, racism, and dehumanization of a disabled child. And platforms, processors, and institutions that enable it need to be held accountable.
If you’re tired of watching silence be mistaken for neutrality, this is your roadmap.
And Then There’s the Deafening Silence.
Let’s be clear:
Acknowledging the video is not the same as
condemning the hate.
Urging people to report incidents is not the same as
taking a public stand.
The
City of Rochester and
Olmsted County have not issued official statements directly condemning this racist incident.
Mayor Norton
acknowledged it. That’s not enough.
There should have been a
formal letter—on city letterhead—declaring that this behavior has no place in our community, period.
The
county? Silent.
Mayo Clinic? Also silent. And that silence? Loud.
We Call on Our Institutions to Step Up:
We
urge the following to release
official public statements—not vague concern, not "disturbing video" language, but direct, unequivocal
condemnation of hate and racism:
The City of Rochester- Olmsted County
- Mayo Clinic
We don’t need corporate HR-speak. We need community leadership. If a child is targeted with racist hate in a public park and your response isn’t outrage, we have to ask:
Whose safety matters to you?
More Ways To Support Good Stuff
State & National Civil Rights Organizations
Minnesota State NAACP
Working across communities, the Minnesota NAACP carries the fight for justice statewide.
National NAACP
Since 1909, the national NAACP has been a critical force in civil rights advocacy across the U.S.
Donate if your’re able
Autism & Disability Support in Minnesota
RT Autism Awareness Foundation (RTAFF) (Nonprofit)
A Rochester-based nonprofit that provides education, support, and connection for families facing new autism diagnoses. They were a lifeline for ours.
Support them if you’re able they are an amazing local organization in Rochester. Donate:
Rochester Center for Autism
Provides ABA therapy and support services for children with autism.
Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) (Nonprofit)
Statewide support, advocacy, education, and community-building for autistic individuals and their families.
Donate if you can.
SEMCIL (Southeastern Minnesota Center for Independent Living) (Nonprofit)
Helps people with disabilities live independently and thrive in their communities.
They recently opened an inclusive and accessible indoor play area in Rochester and it’s so amazing for children with special needs and the community.
MAC Midwest (Minnesota Autism Center) (Nonprofit)
Offers customized treatment services and support for children on the autism spectrum. They are an amazing ASD resource in Minnesota and an amazing ABA company, one of the few that works with youth-adults in Minnesota.
Donate to this organization if you’re able Nonprofit ABA companies are hard to find, and they offer therapy and family training.
Minnesota Autism Resource Portal
An official state resource hub with support options, service directories, and educational info.
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