John Crain, a 43-year-old homeless man, tried to get out of the Marysville store around 2 am without paying for the cup of coffee, so he was confronted by the clerk, who is actually a member of the Sikh community.
The clerk told the police that Crain had poured hot coffee in his face and then hit him before leaving the store.
When police located Crain later that day, he admitted his attack, saying he "hated Muslims."
Malia Lomanic, who lives next to 7-Eleven, said, "The guys at 7-Eleven are super nice."
"Sikhs are Americans, we have been working hard for over 100 years," said Amar Shergill, a board member of the American Sikh Public Affairs Association. "A hate crime against a Sikh is identical to a hate crime against members of Jewish or LGBTQ communities."
Crain has been serving in Yuba County Jail, where he faces charges of theft, assault and hate crime.
