Yes

The goal of criminalizing "Hate Speech" is often to protect minority groups. Paradoxically the same groups are most likely to need strong freedom of speech protections. In a society where the majority hold a hateful view, expressing that view will be unpunished even with Hate Speech laws. Alternatively a hateful majority is likely to frame challenges to their beliefs, even if history proves the challengers right, as hateful attacks on their culture/society/traditions.

It can be difficult to see the benefits of Free Speech, especially in the short term. The consequences of a lack of Free Speech are often more obvious.