No Witnesses in Possible Hate Crime

February 20, 2008

The forum brought further awareness to a case that has already been closed once due to a lack of leads. Despite the assault taking place in a crowded bar, no witnesses have stepped forward. Local citizens have raised about $6,000 in reward money for anyone with information that could lead to arrests, a movement that was precipitated by an Op-ed written by John C. Hughes (Descher’s uncle) that appeared in Washington newspapers.

The Pullman police have also labeled the crime as assault and not as a hate crime, saying there is insufficient evidence linking the racial remark to the attack.

Hughes disagrees. “You don't need Sherlock Holmes or CSI to deduce that Descher likely was the victim of a hate crime.”

Contributor: 

Sylvie Kim

contributing editor & blogger

Sylvie Kim is a contributing editor at Hyphen. She previously served as Hyphen's blog coeditor with erin Khue Ninh, film editor, and blog columnist.

She writes about gender, race, class and privilege in pop culture and media (fun fun fun!) at www.sylvie-kim.com and at SF Weekly's The Exhibitionist blog. Her work has also appeared on Racialicious and Salon.