Locals gather for ‘Love Not Hate’ rally to support people of color

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) –Locals gathered in Rochester for a ‘Love Not Hate’ bridge brigade rally on Monday in response to the viral video of Shiloh Hendrix reportedly spouting racial slurs at a 5-year-old with autism at a Rochester park on April 28.

Indivisible 507 and nearly 40 community members displayed visual messages from the pedestrian bridge on Hwy 52 with a message of “no room for hate” in Rochester.

Attendees hoped to end racism and bigotry in the community.

“While it’s true that the First Amendment does protect our rights to feel how we feel and even say what we want to say, it doesn’t protect our rights to assault children,” Attendee Simon Glaser said.

Volunteers Kelly Klein and Ann Allen said it was a show of support to people of color.

“I don’t know anyone who wasn’t just mortified about that [video], and we want to say that doesn’t belong in our community,” Klein said.

“It feels better when you’re together, sharing your feelings, sharing your thoughts, and I’m hoping we’ll have quite a few people come out to support the cause,” Allen said.

Glaser mentioned racism and bigotry are “not a Black problem,” but a “white problem.”

“While it’s not possible to end bigotry and racism, it is possible to stand against it and make sure we set an example from the highest level that this simply will not be tolerated,” Glaser said.

The event also showcased remarks in line with the ‘Hands Off Our Democracy’ movement. Some locals held Ukrainian flags, upside-down American flags, as well as anti-Donald Trump and anti-Elon Musk remarks.

Attendee Bob Werner showcased a “Musk stinks” sign during the rally.

“The issues are all interconnected, if you really look at them, racism, sexism, and homophobia,” Werner said. “All the -isms come together, in my opinion, in the Trump administration.”

Indivisible 507 held the rally on the Hwy 52 pedestrian bridge because thousands of people drive underneath the bridge every day.

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