Rod's Character Assassination
"Being afraid is not the same as being in danger." - Uprooting Racism by Paul Kivel
A sister-in-law’s perspective:
by: Kara Preas Huertas
I am the sister-in-law of Dawn and Rod Fernandez, married to Dawn’s brother, Sean. Our two children attended Amazing Grace Christian School (“AGCS”) from 2010-2016.
As a witness to the two-year ordeal between the Zimmermans (aka Renton Prep) and my family, I’ve had a unique view into the events that have taken place. Based on what I’ve seen and heard, and based on stories from other families and teachers, I cannot remain silent.
I am compelled to publicly share my perspective because the Zimmermans have attempted to demonize my family, Rod in particular, and I cannot in good conscience allow their words to go unchallenged.
Our family:
To provide context on how close we are as a family, it’s important to note a few things. First, Sean and Dawn’s parents are the center of our family (they also just so happen to live a few houses away from AGCS).
We all live in close proximity—Dawn, next door to her parents, and Sean, within a mile radius of them.
Our families talk daily and see each other nearly every day of the week. Our children are back and forth at each other’s homes constantly.
Being the hub of the family, my in-laws cook meals for all of us daily. The grandkids can always count on the fact that there will be a hot meal waiting on the stove top for them after school. My in-laws host sleepovers and watch the kids during school breaks. In return, Dawn, Rod, Sean, and I help my in-laws around the house and keep watch over their health in any conceivable way we can. We hang out together, help each other, and depend on one another in every way possible-- we are the epitome of the adage, “it takes a village.”
My view of Rod's CHAracter:
I have known Rod for 16 years. I've observed and interacted with him in an array of different contexts.
To say Rod has a strong work ethic is a complete understatement.
For well over 20 years he has worked the night/swing shift tirelessly at the U.S. Postal Service. Rod often works holidays and volunteers for overtime in order to provide for his family. He literally lives off only a few hours of sleep a day.
Rod readily shuttles his children, mine, and other children, to and from school daily. When I arrive at my in-laws' house at the end of a work day, Rod is outside mowing the lawn, fixing the porch, planting flowers, or doing some other home project.
The man is ALWAYS working. He does this not for himself, but for his family, and expects nothing in return.
Rod is soft-spoken, mild-mannered, kind, polite, humble, and generous. To Rod, respect, particularly respect of his elders, is paramount.
I have never, in 16 years, heard Rod complain about ANYTHING. I have never, in 16 years, seen him lose his temper, even in the most stressful of situations.
I’ve witnessed my father-in-law, who is a tough-minded former drill sergeant, raise his voice to Rod a number of times and never once has Rod lost his patience, talked back, or been disrespectful in the slightest. EVER.
Rod has more integrity, character, humility, and work ethic than most people I know or have ever met.
I remember Friday, May 20, 2016, vividly. I was waiting at my in-laws' house early that day to attend the Schools International Potluck, being held at the AGCS campus. I interacted with Rod less than ten minutes before he walked to AGCS with his daughters.
Rod was acting like any good father that day. He was concerned and disappointed, but wanted to hear the other side of the story. He thought there must be an explanation. Rod and Dawn are the kind of parents who trust their children, yet withhold judgment until hearing all sides of a situation.
Rod and Dawn both hold teachers and pastors to high degree of authority. Rod wanted to hear the story; he was also well aware that Randi had been falsely accused by Michelle Zimmerman twice in the past, so there was validity to Randi’s concern of being ‘labeled’ by the Zimmermans.
I had zero concern that Rod was ‘too angry’ or ‘too irrational’ to approach DPZ. In fact, I was glad Rod was going to address the issue.
Rod was acting as an advocate on his daughter’s behalf, but he was not angry. He was hurt and disappointed.
Not once, as I stood there in the doorway of Dawn and Rod’s house, did Rod raise his voice, curse, clinch his fists, or make any wild gestures.
DPZ's demeanor after meeting with rod:
I also interacted with David-Paul Zimmerman about 20-minutes after his supposed traumatic, ‘scary’ interaction with Rod. My husband, Sean, and I, and another family member spoke with DPZ for about 15 minutes.
During part of our conversation, DPZ repeated a story, I found out later he had told Dawn just minutes earlier, about a prestigious African American couple who brought their child in for an admissions interview. DPZ told us how the child was ‘out of control’ and that he was thinking, ‘nope, you think you’re coming here with an attitude like that?’
DPZ also talked about the school-wide dress code meeting that was scheduled for the next day (another story he told Dawn minutes earlier). I remember DPZ made a comment about African Americans that I thought to be inappropriate. I can’t recall the exact comment, just how it made me feel. I remember cringing, but thinking, ‘I think his heart is in the right place; I’ll give him a break.’
DPZ was smiling, relaxed, laughing, making jokes, and telling stories—it felt like any other interaction with him.
DPZ showed no concern for any safety risk on campus, in fact he made the rounds at the Potluck, talking and laughing with families.
As I think back, I imagine it was a very long day for DPZ. I’m exhausted thinking about the span of his day and all of the interactions surrounding the event. He must have gone home completely worn out and exhausted.
It’s enough to imagine that DPZ's day, alone, would have caused him to look tired and pale, the way his daughter, Michelle, describes when she saw him later that evening. To me, it sounds like a convenient opportunity to stretch the truth, exaggerating and distorting it, to fit your narrative of the angry brown man who you found to be threatening.
I know Rod. I know what I saw. There is no doubt in my mind that DPZ exaggerated, and even lied, to protect his daughter, Michelle, instead of holding her accountable for her words to the Renton Prep 6th grade class on the morning of May 25, 2016.
Rod is humble and quiet. He has suffered a great deal because of the Zimmermans' false accusations. My sister-in-law and my nieces have also been deeply hurt because the Zimmermans refuse to take accountability for their wrongdoings.
Rod, Dawn, Jasmine, Randi, and Hailey should have never had to go through this trauma. My hope is that change happens, and that no other family will have to endure what my family experienced.
(Disclaimer: This page represents my viewpoint alone. I have come to these stated beliefs based on my experiences, observations, and interactions with the above-mentioned people. It is not my intention to cause any harm or to hurt anyone, rather to speak the truth, as I see it, on behalf of my beloved family.)
To read more about the False Narratives of the Zimmermans, visit the following pages: