PITTSBURGH — For the first time since a November 2012 traffic stop in Highland Park left him confined to a wheelchair, Leon Ford is beginning to walk again.
“Once I visualized myself using them, it just came naturally. It was powerful. It was amazing just to stand. It was amazing,” he told Channel 11 News Thursday.%
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Ford grabbed national headlines in 2012 when video surfaced of a Pittsburgh police officer shooting and paralyzing him during a traffic stop. The officer had mistaken Ford for another man with the same last name and pulled him over. Ford was acquitted on all charges, and the officer who shot him five times remains on desk duty.
“I'm trying to change the world. I feel like a lot of people talk about solutions, but instead of talking about solutions, I'd rather become the solution,” Ford said.
His story of police misconduct isn’t the one he’s telling now. Ford said he’s focused on inspiring and motivating his peers, captivating crowds and minds.
“No matter what you go through in life, you can be positive. No matter what adversities you're faced with, all it takes is a smile and a good attitude to change the world,” he said.
Ford preaches positivity and progression, and he ultimately wants to be part of the conversation.
“Pittsburgh could be a poster child for other cities by acknowledging what happened, acknowledging that pain and moving forward,” he said.
Ford’s legal battle is not yet over, though. He’s still awaiting his civil rights case, which is moving through the U.S. District Court.
In the meantime, Ford is writing a book, working on debuting a play in a few weeks and hosting a men’s group every Thursday in East Liberty.
Cox Media Group
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