I don't need protection from words. The gibbering idiot on the streetcorner in Portland, ME makes no difference to me. The words of anyone else don't threaten me.

Actions - those can threaten me. If words are deemed in and of themselves to be weapons, then we are one step closer to Thought Crime and "1984".

If someone kills me, they should be punished for the crime of murder. That I just so happen to be of hispanic descent shouldn't make one iota of difference.