Just people looking for attention.
Fact is, in this day and age, it would be nearly impossible to pull an actual "hate crime" off for real. For example, everything at a McDonalds restaurant is recorded on video. Everything. The drive through, the kitchen area, the counter area, the seating area. Even the parking lot.
No fast food worker at any major chain is going to be able to scrawl a hate message on a paper cup without it being on camera.
"Hate" crimes don't exist.