An aware jury would acquit him because he is being charged with a “hate” crime. He should have been charged with assault and battery and all the other things that can be made to go with it like “reckless endangerment,” and “disorderly conduct,” etc. but hate crime charges are surely unconstitutional. The idea of laws against thoughts in the USA is appalling.
You are perfectly correct. The only thing his motivation should be used for is determining the length of his sentence after he is convicted of committing assault.