Everyone filing a “hate crime” hoax should be charged with an actual “hate crime”, handed a 90 day jail sentence, fined $10,000, and made to publicly apologize. The media who ran with the story without any proof, should also publicly apologize, and pledge not to spread these hoaxes any more.
[. . .handed a 90 day jail sentence, fined $10,000, and made to publicly apologize.]
If the message defaces public or private property I would add community service removing graffiti from public places.