Local & Community
Mom Responds to International Attention, Fall-out Over Bullying Incident
KMIR News first reported on the story of 10-year-old Aiden Vazquez, a fifth-grader at Two Bunch Palms Elementary in Desert Hot Springs, who received six stitched on his face after he was hit by another student.
On Thursday Vasquez went back to the same school where the incident took place, his mother Lizette Casanova said she has seen a change from the school.
Casanova said, “They’re working with that and working with me and I think that’s awesome so far you know obviously he’s back in school today so there was something that was being done for me to feel safe with him going back.”
Vasquez got the attention of the nation for not fighting back after he was punched, when he was asked why he did not fight back, he said, “I got it from Star Wars that it’s not the Jedi way.”
It was that sentence that got the attention of Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill and a whole host of other people who admired his pacifist ways.
“He got a very nice phone call from J.J. Abrams, from the actress who plays Hera in the Star Wars Rebels, Elya Salkind, he’s the director of Superman,” Casanova said. “We’ve been reached out from Hasbro toys … I didn’t expect it I didn’t try to to get all that attention, Aiden is Aiden and I can’t tell him what to say.”
But for Casanova not all of the attention was positive, she said people from all over the world were supportive and caring, but there was also a darker side to the attention. She said social media bullies said awful things about her son and about herself.
KMIR News has received several anonymous emails and heard accusations from one local mother who said the entire story has not been told.
Chandra Garin is a mother of a student at Two Bunch Palms Elementary School and she also volunteers as a supervisor of the students during recess.
“There’s two stories, not just one … he’s the one that bullied my son,” Garin said. “The one that got punched in the eye right? And then supposedly the Jedi way, that’s funny because if he was really the Jedi way if he was really a Star Wars fan he would not be bullying kids like in third grade.”
Garin contradicts the message of peace by Vasquez and she accuses the 10-year-old boy of taunting her son.
There is no corroboration to these accusations yet, neither the school, the district or the police will comment on the record on the new claims.
Casanova will continue to defend her son without question.
She said, “My son is not perfect but he is not a bully, I have not had a single instance where the school has called me telling me that my son is a bully or they’ve had any violent issues whatsoever with him.”
Through it all, Casanova said her son has remained steadfastly in the Jedi way.
She said, “It makes him feel good, it makes him feel like the guardian of peace.”
By: NBC Palm Springs
September 6, 2018
Latest Instagram Posts
Firefighters, furry friends and a great cause! Palm Springs Life magazine has teamed up with the Palm Springs Fire Department and Animal Samaritans for a new charity calendar featuring local firefighters and adorable adoptable animals. Calendars are $20, with a portion of sales benefiting the Animal Samaritans Rescue Fund and the restoration of El Diablo, a historic 1931 American fire engine. It's a great way to support two local organizations while bringing a little extra cuteness to your wall! #PalmSprings #AnimalSamaritans #PalmSpringsFireDepartment #AdoptDontShop #CoachellaValley #NBCPalmSprings
Overriding the jury, the voters, and the families? This decision is sparking major outrage across the state. What’s your take? #therogginreport #news #trendingnews #fyp #nbcpalmsprings
The FAGE WTA Finals are bringing some of the world’s top women tennis players to the Coachella Valley — but the impact goes far beyond the court. From hotels and restaurants to local tourism and small businesses, just how much of an economic boost is this tournament bringing to the desert? @maria_nvtv is a closer look at what this international sporting event could mean for our local economy. #WTATennis #WTFinals #CoachellaValley #LocalEconomy #PalmSprings
Palm Springs Pride's theme this year was “BE INCLUDED.” So why was Code Pink told it couldn't march? For the second year in a row, the anti-war and feminist group was denied a place in the Pride Parade. Organizers say the group's message doesn't directly support the LGBTQ+ community and point to concerns raised by community members. Code Pink says its members include LGBTQ+ people and argues that exclusion goes against the spirit of Pride. After the parade ended, the group took to the route anyway. Was this a matter of protecting the purpose of Pride — or a contradiction of its message of inclusion? Where do you stand? #PalmSpringsPride #CodePink #LGBTQ #FreeSpeech #CoachellaValley #NBCPalmSprings
Palm Springs Pride is celebrating 40 years of community and inclusion this year. And while hundreds of thousands of people painted the town rainbow, others took the occasion to protest against the exclusion of one group from the parade. Tune in to our on air newscasts at 8:30 and 11 p.m as our @newsbyalondra takes us inside the festivities and protest that took place this year.
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1) John Moreno Jr. with the TFL 2) Kingston Pellum with the snag or, 3)Parker Lewis with the interception #hondaofthedesert #fnl #fridaynightlights #fyp #highschoolfootball
Pride weekend brought the party to the pool at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs! David Reese stopped by the annual GED Magazine pool party, where an estimated 1,000 people gathered to celebrate community, inclusivity and Pride. The festivities continue with more events, including the Locker Room after-hours party and the Refresh pool party following Sunday’s parade. #PalmSpringsPride #PrideWeekend #AceHotel #GEDMagazine #NBCPalmSprings
@chef_matthew_resler executive chef and partner of @ashandvine.restaurant sits down with us to talk about his life as a marine sniper and law enforcement officer, family dinner at his Italian household, cooking on tour with Jason Aldean, how cooking food brings him out of his shell, and a friendship with two co-workers that blossomed into a must try restaurant in downtown Palm Springs. The full episode is on our YouTube page and nbcpalmsprings.com #palmspringsrestaurant #palmspringsfood #coachellavalleyrestaurant
Palm Springs Pride is officially underway and many local businesses are already looking ahead at the major economic boost this annual event brings every year. Our @newsbyalondra will have live coverage at 4:30, 5 and 6 p.m on air and online where she’ll speak to business owners about how they prep for the big crowds.
A federal judge blocked construction of President Trump’s 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery for 14 days, less than an hour after the project won final approval despite hours of public opposition.