On this date in 2008, in Fontana, California (San Bernardino County), someone broke into Luv'd Ones barber shop located at 7373 East Avenue, set the couch there on fire, and spray-painted the shop with racist remarks in what police are calling a hate crime.

In the early morning hours on this date in 2009, on the beach in Seaside, Oregon, a white gay male couple, Shoreline Community College nursing students vacationing on spring break, were assaulted by four assailants—three white males and one American Indian woman—in what police called a sexual orientation-based hate crime. Samson Deal, 22, from Issaquah, Washington, and Kevan Petterson, 22, of Bothell, Washington, were beaten unconscious while they walked along the beach near the Best Western Ocean View Resort in an attack where anti-gay slurs were hurled at them by their assailants. Both victims were treated at the Seaside Providence Hospital, and Mr. Petterson sustained a significant eye injury in the attack requiring surgery. Anyone with information about this hate crime should call the Seaside Police Department at (503) 738-6311. There is a $2,500 reward. In June, 2009, the Oregon Legislature passed House Joint Memorial 22, a message to President Barack Obama and Congress that mentioned the attack on Mr. Deal and Mr. Washington. House Joint Memorial 22 urged the President and Congress to pass a federal bill extending the definition of hate crimes to include those based on a person's sexual orientation.

In Rochester, Minnesota, on this date in 2009, a 49-year-old black Rochester resident of Sudanese descent was attacked outside the North Star Bar on North Broadway by a white man, Justin Charles Conerton, 25, of Rochester. Conerton stabbed the victim in the hand with a screwdriver after the victim was first confronted in the bar where he was with a friend. After the victim left the bar Conerton hurled a racial slur at the victim immediately prior to the alleged attack. Police called the incident a hate crime, and Conerton was charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, fourth-degree assault motivated by bias (a hate crime), and disorderly conduct. About a month before Conerton's alleged race-based attack on this date, he is said to have committed another hate crime assault—that one directed at a gay man. Conerton also has been arrested previously. He was charged on January 8, 2009 with Felony level 5th Degree Drugs-Possess Schedule 1, 2, 3, 4-Not Small Amount Marijuana and Petty Misdemeanor Drugs-Possession of Drug Paraphernalia-Use or Possession Prohibited, according to court records. Justin Conerton—who claimed he acted in self-defense—waived his right to a jury trial. His bench trial began on May 12, 2009, and on May 15, 2009, Judge Jodi Williamson found Conerton guilty of second-degree felony assault with a dangerous weapon, but found him not guilty of the hate crime charge. On June 22, 2009, Judge Williamson sentenced Conerton to serve 39 months in prison.

In San Diego, California, on this date in 2009, a gay couple, Thomas Mitchell and his boyfriend Howard Lam, were attacked in the Hillcrest section of the city by three men and two women as the couple walked down University Avenue. Mr. Lam was first assaulted by one of the women—who had first yelled anti-gay slurs and obscenities at the couple—before both men were attacked by all five perptrators, who are also thought to be gay. Mr. Lam sustained minor injuries, but Mr. Mitchell suffered bruises on his head and damage to a knee ligament rendering him unable to work. If you have information about this hate crime attack, please call the San Diego Police Department Western Division at (619) 692-4978.