9 Acts Of Domestic Terrorism And Bigotry In 2 Months

Each week this summer has brought something terrible and new.

This summer might not hold the record for hate crimes or domestic terrorism, but it certainly feels like there’s another tragic shooting or near-fatal attack every few days. By one count, there have been 247 “hate incidents” in the first half of this year, putting us on track to beat 2011’s total count (316).

From religious halls to private homes, these attacks have weaved in and out of media consciousness for weeks. Here, the targets of this dark summer.

2. June 17: A Mormon temple

After the graffiti was discovered, two teenagers were arrested in Jurupa Valley, Calif., on suspicion of burglary, vandalism, conspiracy and committing a hate crime.

3. July 22: A lesbian in Nebraska

Charlie Rogers didn’t just have her home broken into by a group of masked men. They bound her and carved anti-gay slurs into her skin. Then they set her house on fire with her still inside. She escaped.

Elsewhere in the country, two teenage lesbians were shot. One died.

Via: ketv.com

4. Aug. 5: A Sikh temple

Six people died after a suspected white supremacist opened fire on a Sunday service.

Image by JEFFREY PHELPS / AP

5. Aug. 6: The Islamic Society of Joplin

The cause of the destructive fire hasn’t yet been determined, but arson is suspected, as there was another attempt at the center earlier this year. No one was injured.

Image by Roger Nomer / AP

6. Aug. 9: African-American and Mexican businesses

Graffiti was scrawled on the Sons of Haiti Masonic Temple and nearby black- and Mexican-owned food carts in Oregon. There were swastikas, slurs and a depiction of a lynching.

Source: oregonlive.com

7. Aug. 15: A conservative Christian group

A security guard at the Family Research Council was injured after taking down a shooter who was a volunteer at an LGBT center. The suspect was carrying a 9mm pistol, two loaded magazines, 50 rounds of ammunition and 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches. No one died.

Image by Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

8. Aug. 15: A Muslim Florida home

The family’s house was hit with a firebomb. No one was injured.

That’s not all this summer brought. These attacks by unhinged men weren’t domestic terrorism, but they were among a bloody season’s bloodiest incidents:

10. July 20: A Colorado movie theater

Suspected shooter James Holmes killed 12 and injured 58 others when he opened fire on a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colo.

Image by Joe Raedle / Getty Images

11. Aug. 13: A Texas street

Thomas Alton Caffall III fired gunshots outside the home he had just been evicted from. After killing two, he was killed by police gunfire.

Image by Rigo Cisneros / AP