Was Matthew Owens the Victim of Hate?

It's interesting. Alabama police are saying the assault on Matthew Owens is not a hate crime despite the fact that it was a gang of blacks who attacked him and one mentioned getting even for Trayvon Martin.  It's also interesting that most of the stories are talking about Matthew Owens fussing at a group of "children" which in my mind conjures up images of little kids. But apparently the "children" involved were teenagers who came back with adults armed to the teeth with belt buckles, metal pipes, etc. to beat Owens to a pulp.

And is the gal on the news serious when she calls the beating an "accident?" There was nothing accidental about it.

Why don't we just get rid of the "hate crime" designation altogether. Is assaulting and stealing the purse from an old white lady, less offensive than assaulting and robbing somebody who's (take your pick) black, Hispanic, gay, Muslim, etc.? The fact is that our culture is becoming more polarized. Politicians use the politics of division to strengthen their base. It's an evil way to do business, but apparently works.