Hate Crimes in New York City

Richard Cohen of the Washington Post seems to be surprised about New York City:

New York is a blue state. New York City is a very blue city, the unofficial capital of liberalism, civil liberties and civil rights. So it may surprise you to learn that in New York a person can be prosecuted for a political crime. That is happening right now in two different cases. They both involve attacks on black men by -- how shall we say this? -- non-black men. The suspects are charged with hate crimes.

Why the surprise? Seeing people as victims groups instead of individuals is so New York City.Richard Cohen doesn't understand that white,male,capitalism,Wal-Mart,hand gun ownership, and the Marlboro man are highly oppressive symbols to the town that hasn't create one net private sector job since 1969.