Then why were the Westboro morons afforded safe haven? The KKK?
In fact, I just read a case where someone burned a cross on a black families lawn. The person was charged with destruction of property, but was not charged with a hate crime/hate speech, as he was protected under the first amendment.
Another case:
In 2011, the Supreme Court issued their ruling on Snyder v. Phelps, which concerned the right of the Westboro Baptist Church to protest with signs found offensive by many Americans.
The issue presented was whether the 1st Amendment protected the expressions written on the signs. In an 8-1 decision the court sided with Phelps, the head of Westboro Baptist Church, thereby confirming their historically strong protection of hate speech, so long as it doesn't promote imminent violence. The Court explained, "speech deals with matters of public concern when it can 'be fairly considered as relating to any matter of political, social, or other concern to the community' or when it 'is a subject of general interest and of value and concern to the public."
But according to HTexan.

I guess all those federal judges should have consulted with HTexan before ruling. They could have made a better decision.
free speech doesn't protect:
1.) hate speech