Can someone explain French laws used to fine/convict Jean-Marie Le Pen for "inciting racial hatred"?

I ask this because it seems his anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim remarks are fined, but in contrast, in the USA the things he says are stated on a day-by-day basis without being fined.

Can't this power of the courts to fine someone for "inciting racial hatred (quote from the court referring to Le Pen as grounds to fine him)" be abused and used to limit free speech and the press? It seems in the USA this would be regarded as unconstitutional way to limit free speech, so I would love to learn the differences in laws between the two countries and how that power to fine for inciting racial hatred is limited in order to prevent curbing too much free speech.

Edit: For clarity, I am not on a "the USA is better and has better laws with greater liberties and freedoms and you should do it our way" high horse. I would genuinely love to understand these different laws, and respect the differences.