Discrepancies debunked
Brief Intro....
Attached is a Transcript of the May 20, 2016, 15 minute and 57 second conversation (6:06 PM -6:22 PM) that transpired between Dr. David-Paul Zimmerman ("DPZ') and Dawn Fernandez ("Dawn") just mere seconds after DPZ and Rod Fernandez ("Rod") met in the Pastor’s office, during which meeting DPZ alleges that he was physically threatened by Rod, before Dawn arrived at the meeting and joined the two of them.
Prior to Rod hurrying out of the building as he was running late for work, DPZ grabbed Rod's arm after Rod thanked him for listening to him, asked Rod if he could pray with him and Dawn, initiated the three of them to hold hands in a circle as he prayed, then ended by hugging Rod while Rod thanked him one last time for listening to him, in which,
DPZ's final words to Rod were, "I'M GLAD YOU CAME IN."
In order to better understand, and provide some context before reading the Transcript, it is important to know that throughout the meeting with DPZ, Rod, and Dawn, Dawn apologized on numerous occasions for going to DPZ without first getting the whole story about what transpired between Gloria Zimmerman (“Gloria”) and Renton Prep students just hours earlier that day.
DPZ's responses to Dawn’s apologies were:
"Oh no, don't apologize."
"I respect Rod."
"I commend Rod."
"I would rather he [Rod] come to me."
“We're like family."
"I know Rod has his daughters' hearts."
In fact, just as DPZ and Dawn were walking out of the Pastor's office, while Rod was hurrying through the foyer toward the stairs to exit the building, Dawn continued to apologize and explain to DPZ that although she had wanted to get the full story first, she admitted that because she didn't see the girls crying earlier like Rod had, it was not as hurtful to her as it was to Rod who witnessed their daughters crying. DPZ totally agreed, and assured Dawn that he was glad Rod came to him.
The following is the full Transcript of the conversation between DPZ and Dawn, which continued just 3 seconds after Rod left the office, outside the Pastor's office, in the upstairs foyer of Amazing Grace Christian School.
CLICK HERE FOR MAY 20 TRANSCRIPT
DISCREPANCIES:
A. UNLIKE THE ZIMMERMANS' FALSE CLAIMS that "Dawn apologized for Rod's BEHAVIOR," during the conversation between DPZ and Dawn, the Transcript will clearly show that Dawn apologized twice (and not in any way for Rod’s behavior), in which both times DPZ told Dawn not to apologize:
[See page 2 lines 11-13 of May 20 Transcript]
1) Dawn said, "AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT -" (for Rod going to speak with DPZ without first getting the full story about what transpired between Gloria and Renton Prep students earlier that day), in which DPZ responded, "NO, DON’T APOLOGIZE."
[See page 7 lines 3-13 of May 20 Transcript]
2) Still curious as to what specifically DPZ was referring to about Rod after he made the racist remark about his stereotyped belief of Filipino men/fathers earlier in the conversation (see page 3 lines 1-13 of the Transcript), Dawn curiously asked DPZ if Rod was nice when he came to him, and DPZ indicated that Rod was "scary." Dawn responded, "NO, NO," then out of empathy for DPZ's disappointing predisposed belief that he had about certain styles of Filipino men/fathers, which he proclaimed to Dawn earlier in the conversation, Dawn said, "I APOLOGIZE," in which DPZ responded, "YOU DON’T HAVE TO APOLOGIZE."
DPZ never stated anything about Rod saying anything threatening to him or performing any physical action against him; therefore, Dawn NEVER apologized to him ‘for Rod’s behavior,’ as she had no reason. Instead, DPZ expressed his feelings and informed Dawn of his stereotyped belief about Filipino men/fathers - even warning Dawn beforehand that his explanation was “GOING TO SOUND RACIST."
DPZ even softened his feelings about Rod by saying that "UNLIKE [ROD], HE DOESN’T CALL NAMES LIKE MANY OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS WHO COME IN HERE AND CALL YOU ALL KINDS OF STUFF.”
B. UNLIKE THE ZIMMERMANS' FALSE CLAIMS that DPZ "described [to Dawn] how he felt Rod was scary during the meeting," DPZ did NOT describe any type of action or language by Rod that would constitute Rod being scary or threatening to punch DPZ. Rod is quiet and laid back by nature, so for Rod to go out of his comfort zone and approach DPZ to express his concern was out of the ordinary for Rod, which might have caught DPZ off guard. In fact, DPZ admitted, "WE JUST SAT THERE." (see page 7 line 10) DPZ, again, described his feelings and beliefs (no actions or words on Rod's part), which, again, was rooted from DPZ's prior expressed stereotyped belief of Filipino men.
[See page 7 lines 3-13 of May 20 Transcript]
Dawn: Was he nice when he came to you?
DPZ: No, he was scary. I mean I, I don't get scared about anything, but I thought okay, if you're gonna hit, you're gonna hit--
Dawn: No, no.
DPZ: and I'm probably not going to get up, 'cause at 63 I can't move like I used to. Uh, but the fact-
Dawn: I apologize.
DPZ: WE SAT THERE, and I just - you don't have to apologize. I would rather him come do this with me than anybody else. I'd rather have a dad come in, just get it off their chest, 'cause you saw as we got to the end- we're not disagreeing.
Dawn: Yep.
C. DAVID-PAUL ZIMMERMAN FALSELY CLAIMS that Rod entering his office “enraged; his fists clenched, his eyes bulging, bloodshot and glazed over and he was shaking.” DPZ also fabricated that Rod looked at him and said, "Don't talk, don't say anything. I am so mad I could hit someone." In Defendants’ Trial Brief, DPZ claims that in response to Rod’s statement, he "lowered his chair as far as it would go and slumped down so he would not be towering over [Rod] [NOTE: DPZ is 6'2" and Rod is 5'6"] and kept silent as [Rod] had told him to do."
These fictional detailed descriptions came only after Dawn inquired with DPZ multiple times as to his daughter, Michelle’s, defamatory statement, followed by his spending hours watching and studying the Schools’ audio-videos of the May 20, 2016 meeting between him and Dawn, as well as of the audio-video of Michelle making the defamatory statement to the Renton Prep 6th grade students on May 25, 2016, in order to corroborate his daughter’s statement.
1) DPZ's sworn testimonies of Rod saying, "Don't talk, don't say anything. I am so mad I could hit someone," as well as DPZ claiming to have kept silent "as [Rod] had told him to do," are SIMPLY FABRICATED AND FALSE. His testimonies contradict what he told Dawn during their conversation just seconds after the meeting where he alleged Rod threatened him.
[See page 3 lines 1-3 of May 20 Transcript]
DPZ: And uh, that's the reason I brought him here [to DPZ's/Pastor's office], uh, and just, he [Rod] said, "DON'T TALK" I [DPZ] said, "FINE. GO AHEAD AND GET IT OUT."
[See page 13 lines 16-18 of May 20 Transcript]
DPZ: I would prefer him [Rod] to come sit with me as a dad, and I just said, I listen to him, 'cause he said, "DON'T TALK. I JUST WANNA GET THIS AND GO." And we just start talking about being dads, because I, I told him what I meant (inaudible) 'cause you don't find too may dads, but I also, you know, I- if I named the names you'd know, the fam- the Filipino dads who've come in here—”
D) MICHELLE AND DAVID-PAUL ZIMMERMAN have testified that they watched the almost 16 minute May 20, 2016 video between DPZ and Dawn numerous times. In fact, Michelle testified at trial that SHE WATCHED THE VIDEO OVER 100 TIMES.
Interestingly, Michelle and DPZ focus on the following statements by Dawn:
1) He was screaming at me.
2) He’s the nicest guy, but he goes crazy.
3) He hung up on me.
These three statements took less than 10 seconds in total to say, and have been grossly taken out of context by the Zimmermans in order to fabricate reasons as to their belief, and to disprove the statement made by Michelle against Rod was defamatory. These three statements were made within the first 2-1/2 minutes of the 15 minute and 57 second conversation with DPZ doing most of the talking, bragging, gossiping, showing his abuse of power, racist beliefs, arrogance and lack of humility - even refusing to end the conversation when Dawn prompted him to attend the School even by saying “Dr. go.” Instead, DPZ responded, “No, no, no – that’s all right. I just wanna say this because, like, we really need your prayers…” (See page 4 lines 4-7 of the May 20 Transcript).
E) UNLIKE THE ZIMMERMANS' FALSE CLAIMS that Rod did not deny that he threatened DPZ with physical violence is FALSE. The Zimmermans are changing the narrative and are falsely alleging that Rod said, "I know, I know, I know, I know-" in response to Michelle saying "how she was scared when she heard her father was threatened with physical violence."
CLICK HERE for transcribed excerpts of the May 24, 2016 meeting.
[See pages 1-2 of May 24 Transcript]
1) What Michelle and DPZ fail to share is that just 1 minute into the May 24, 2016, meeting, Rod mentions how Randi looks very uncomfortable in the May 20, 2016 video while being questioned by Gloria Zimmerman. The conversation leads into Michelle mentioning a threat of violence, in which Rod says “NO” six times (see page 2 lines 1-5). Confused, Rod then looks to DPZ, who is not saying a word while sitting next to him, for affirmation and clarification with his daughter, given that Rod’s confusion and the fact that he had been notified by DPZ or any of the Zimmermans or School leadership of any wrongdoing on his part (because there wasn’t any). DPZ QUICKLY SHUTS ANY FURTHER CONVERSATION DOWN BY TELLING MICHELLE DIRECTLY:
“We’ll deal with this as adults, not with, not with children.”
(See page 2 line 10) [NOTE: Interestingly, this section of the audio-video was played while DPZ was sitting in the witness stand at trial, and DPZ conveniently claimed, under oath, that he could not hear it??????]
Rod interprets DPZ’s response as him talking with Michelle at a later time, then you can see that Rod moves on with the conversation relating to the topic of Gloria’s mishandling of the situation – which was the sole reason of the meeting.
2) [See pages 3-7 of the May 24 Transcript]
With regard to the Zimmermans falsely alleging that Rod’s “I know…” response was an admittance to threatening DPZ, Rod truly had no idea he was being accused of physical violence, and was only responding to Michelle’s comment where she referenced the situation involving Jasmine and Randi as “something really small.” When Rod said, “and let me explain to you also why I came to that point,” he went on to explain that he saw Jasmine and Randi crying, running to the car as if somebody died…” as indicated in this section:
DPZ: uh (DPZ chuckles)
Michelle: So, just think about that. If you’re talking about family, you know how you’re all saying, “Well, this really hurt me when this about.” When I heard that my dad was threatened with physical violence, that really scared me. And I was thinking, “OVER THIS? That was going on where it started with SOMETHING REALLY SMALL—”
Rod: (addresses Michelle) Okay, and-
Michelle: that, I’m serious-
Rod: I know, I know, I know, I know –
Michelle: it really scared me, and I cried.
Rod: And, and let me explain to you also why I came to that point. And, when I saw my two girls crying, running to the car crying, as if somebody died, and then, and in my mind I think B------ was behind them, so I think they don’t wanna tell B------ what’s going on, ‘cause in my mind I heard, ‘don’t tell -Brandon’, and I, when we’re all in the car and I got a full load of kids all that I heard is they were bawling. And I thought, at first I thought, their Nana, but I go ‘No, it can’t be ‘cause why would they hide it from me ‘cause’-
DPZ: Right.
Rod: cause’ I asked Randi Jade, “what’s going on?” (references Randi Jade’s response). “Well, I I, can I just tell you at home?” So, in my mind the whole time I was driving, ‘Oh my gosh, um, B------‘s grandma died.” She has- she could- stage cancer, I mean really bad. So, you know, I live and die-
Michelle: Yeah.
Rod: for my kids. We spend, we invest money on our kids. I could have cars, brand new, every single year, but I put it on their education. So, -
DPZ: (jokingly) Trade your kids in for a new car (scans the room & puts both thumbs up in the air and shrugs shoulders).
Rod: (continues to address Michelle) So, so you’re, so basically what I’m telling you as a parent, I care about my kids so much-
DPZ: (Speaking over Rod) And I know that you cared, which is why I stayed.
Rod: Their pain is my pain.
F) UNLIKE THE ZIMMERMANS' FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT JASMINE & RANDI FERNANDEZ that 1) "In May 2016, the School became aware of an allegation of bullying started by one of Rod's daughters, Randi, and spread by another daughter, Jasmine." and 2) "The School conducted an investigation into the allegations and determined Rod's children had not been honest in their version of events."
1) Neither Randi or Jasmine have EVER been accused of or disciplined for bullying anyone at anytime during their tenure at Amazing Grace/Renton Prep. To falsely claim that the Fernandez children initiated bullying is evil. ASK ANY ONE OF THE RENTON PREP STUDENTS THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MAY 20, 2016 MEETING HELD BY GLORIA ZIMMERMAN, AND THEY WILL ALL VOUCH THAT RANDI AND JASMINE NEVER BULLIED OR LIED ABOUT ANYONE AT THAT SCHOOL.
2) The "School Investigation" that Renton Prep claims it conducted WAS the actual May 20, 2016 meeting in which Gloria Zimmerman mishandled and later apologized to Randi for making her apologize to the student she claims was being bullied. Like DPZ, it was at Gloria's sole discretion as to who she chose to believe. She, like the rest of the Zimmermans, held the "power" and "abused the power" by playing "God" and determined who was telling the truth, based on hearsay. In the end, Gloria ruled that Jasmine and Randi were not being honest, and she considered the matter resolved. This is what the Zimmermans constitute an "investigation" conducted by the School [Renton Prep]. There was no oversight whatsoever. AGAIN, ASK ANY ONE OF THE RENTON PREP STUDENTS THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MAY 20, 2016 MEETING HELD BY GLORIA ZIMMERMAN, AND THEY WILL PROVIDE A SIMILAR DESCRIPTION OF THE UNFAIR & BIASED SO-CALLED "INVESTIGATION" PERFORMED SOLELY BY GLORIA.
G) THE ZIMMERMANS CLAIM that Rod and Dawn "would not accept the School's determination that Jasmine and Randi had not been honest." This is 100% true. However, when DPZ made the decision to dis-enroll the three (3) Fernandez girls on the evening of May 24, 2016, Dawn replied "As you wish." The Fernandez knew they were wronged, but accepted that it was best to move on since it was clear that the Fernandez girls were already being falsely labeled by the Zimmermans. Dawn’s 3 word reply would have been the last the Zimmermans would have heard from the Fernandezes had it not been for Michelle's defamatory statement about Rod to the Fernandez girls' classmates the following morning - the only classmates they've ever known their entire academic lives.
H) UNLIKE THE ZIMMERMANS' FALSE CLAIM THAT THE MAY 24, 2016 MEETING was "to discuss Rod's conduct and the allegations that had led to the bullying investigation," this was not true. The May 23, 2016 email string between Dawn and DPZ clearly shows that the May 24, 2016 meeting was solely to view the video of Gloria and the Renton Prep students on May 20, 2016. In fact, in one of DPZ’s emails to Dawn on May 23, 2016, he specifically writes, “…I eagerly wish to share it [the video of Gloria] with you and your family, especially Rod, so he can see the entire interaction and how calmly and lovingly Gloria approached this issue.”
SCREENSHOT OF EMAIL? CLICK HERE FOR DAWN’S DECLARATION w/ EMAIL AS EXHIBIT???
The interesting part of the May 24, 2016 meeting was that in the very beginning of watching the video, DPZ paused the video so the parties could discuss and clarify what was viewed. Dawn and Randi spoke of when Gloria made Randi apologize to the 6th grade student for no reason and at no fault of Randi’s. Gloria and Michelle denied Gloria ever making Randi apologize. Randi started tearing up and stated that it was coming up next in the video. DPZ resumed the video and, sure enough, it clearly showed Gloria making Randi apologize, in an intimidating manner, in front of the Renton Prep students. Randi hesitated, apologized (out of respect for being instructed by an elder to do so), and then proceeded to comment to the 6th grade student about knowing what she said about her cousin. After viewing this, Gloria was initially silent and appearing shocked, then verbally apologized to Randi in front of all attendees. Randi graciously accepted Gloria’s apology. It was subsequent to this apology that the Zimmermans began acting defensive, challenged, disrespected, etc. It was of no surprise to Dawn, that this lead to the disenrollment of her daughters, false statement by Michelle the following morning, and the fabricated and corroborated stories by DPZ and Michelle about Rod, in an attempt to protect Michelle and disprove that her statement was defamatory.