A black man left paralysed after being shot five times by American police has forgiven his attacker – and now works with officers to prevent further casualties.
Leon Ford was 19 when David Derbish, a white Pittsburgh officer, fired five bullets into him at point-blank range after wrongly believing him to be a wanted fugitive.
Now, a decade on, having fought in court to prove his innocence and winning a civil claim against the Pennsylvania force, Ford has chosen reconciliation instead of retaliation.
He even held a face-to-face meeting with Derbish, during which, despite battling years of depression, hatred for the police and suicidal thoughts, Ford shook the hand that pulled the trigger and expressed his desire to work together.
“I believe that meeting was the beginning of Derbish’s healing process,” Ford, now 30, tells The National. “Although he didn’t apologise, the surprise, admiration and respect I saw in his eyes was better than an apology.
“It’s easy for me to say all police officers are bad, just like it’s easy for him to say I’m a bad person. But once he realised I wasn’t – can you imagine what that did to him psychologically?
“At the end of the day, he is a person, he is a police officer still and works as a negotiator.
“What good is it carrying on feeling hatred and expressing just as much, when we can move forward together for the better of our community?
“This was my way of being a better person than that and helping to make a real difference.”
Wrongly shot and taken to court
On November 11, 2012, Ford was driving to his grandmother’s for Sunday dinner when he was stopped by a patrol car.
He had been racially profiled by officers looking for Lamont Ford, a black Pittsburgh resident of around the same age who was wanted on criminal charges but of no relation or connection to Ford.
Despite Ford showing two officers his ID and insisting there had been a mistake, they started pulling him out of his car.
Panicking, he gripped the steering wheel and started driving away. However, unbeknown to him, a third officer, Derbish, who was 26 at the time, had entered the vehicle from the passenger’s side and shot him repeatedly.
“He broke a lot of laws by doing that,” Ford adds. “But I was charged with resisting arrest and felony assault. I was facing 20 years in prison. I was in tremendous physical and psychological pain. I was in a very dark place.”
In the intensive care unit, with staples in his chest, tubes down his throat and having narrowly avoided death, he was arrested.
His family were blocked by officers, who threatened to arrest his father, also called Leon, as they pleaded they let them see him.
They were forced to hire lawyers to file a motion – they waited two weeks before they were granted access.
During his recovery, Ford spent the next six years fighting the same police force, first against the federal crimes he was charged with and then in a civil case. He won the first after a jury found him not guilty of all charges and settled the second for $5.5 million.
He was pushed to the brink of life and credits his “hero” father and “beautiful” mother LaTonya Green for pulling him back, as well as his son LJ, who was born while he was still in hospital.
'Meeting the policeman who shot me'
The pair met in July 2021 at a hotel, joined by a senior police commander and a pastor close to Ford.
“The sight of Derbish startled me. I had once wanted to murder him, and somewhere in me, those feelings still existed,” Ford says. “The anger, frustration and confusion that I had suppressed surfaced for a second or two.”
However, as Derbish approached, Ford looked him in the eye and stretched out his hand.
“Then Derbish asked me: ‘Can I hug you?’ Without thinking I said: ‘Sure.’ And we did.”
Their embrace paved the way for a brutally honest account Derbish’s actions had had on Ford, with the officer then revealing he was inspired by Ford’s prominent activism and campaigning in Pittsburgh.
Ford has spent years trying to bring the city together to heal and set up The Hear Foundation with the city’s former chief of police Scott Schubert as a bridge between officers and the black community.
“Derbish said: ‘I want to be a part of whatever you’re working on.’ I was surprised,” Ford says. “I made it known that I was open to collaborating with him.”
A year before their meeting, Ford had met with Schubert and begun working on programmes in the city to address gun crime, police brutality and violence on the streets, where prison is seen as a “gladiator school” and opportunities to engage with law enforcement – outside of courtrooms and jail cells – is limited.
'People see me as Christ-like, but I'm not'
Ford has now published his memoir, An Unspeakable Hope.
It’s a raw and honest account of his journey to forgiveness, becoming a prominent activist and spearheading change in Pittsburgh.
“People see me like a Christ-like figure, especially in Pittsburgh, they think I’m perfect,” he adds. “But I’m not and I need to give context. It’s my humanity and my life experiences that give me the space to forgive and work with the people who hurt me.”
As a result, Ford’s book is a warts-and-all account of his childhood – from idolising his drugs kingpin father who was highly respected on the streets, to shooting somebody when he was only 14.
After Ford’s father was jailed, he followed him into the drug-dealing business selling marijuana – “I had $130,000 in cash in a shoebox under my bed at 18” – seeking, and earning, respect on the street.
Instead of listening to his father’s pleas to stay in school and stay away from gangs, Ford followed the life he was “preconditioned” for as a young man “surviving in the hood”.
He distrusted police, as everyone around him did, and he watched family, friends and loved ones killed in the streets by other members of his community.
“There was a lot of dysfunction, but also a lot of love,” he adds. “But if we’re able to lean into the love, we can be better – people aren’t inherently bad.”
A wake-up call in Dubai
After the shooting, Ford began building his profile in his community, speaking to schoolchildren, attending rallies and explaining the complexities of forgiveness to those who asked.
He even spoke at an international school in Dubai in April 2019, where one of his closest friends and mentors worked.
In his book, he recounts how the pair were outside eating ice cream when the sound of a motorbike backfiring sparked fears they were being shot at.
“We were so used to gun violence in Pittsburgh that the sound had triggered us,” Ford says. “But my experiences in Dubai left such a strong impression on me that I decided it was time to leave.
“For the first time in my life, I found myself in a foreign land contemplating what life could be like outside of America. It was inspirational to see someone who ran the same streets of Pittsburgh living well as an expat.”
Although he remains in Pittsburgh to help raise his son LJ, his activism and work continue to take him around the US and the world.
He has met and spoken with the likes of former US president Barack Obama, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey and Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson – even playing chess against the latter on his Caribbean Necker Island.
“Oh, he dominated me at chess, he’s a machine, one of the most amazing people I’ve met,” Ford says about their game last July.
He now runs The Hear Foundation, funding projects, training and supporting those recently released from prison and helping families affected by gun violence. He even executive produced the documentary Leon, which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019.
“I want to show that, if I’m able to meet the police officer who shot me, why can’t other leaders in our communities sit down and collaborate?” he adds.
“I want to offer a perspective that transcends police brutality – my book isn’t about police brutality; it’s about relationships, it’s about community and it’s about problem-solving.
“Be it police violence or community violence, everyone has a role to play.”
Leon Ford’s An Unspeakable Hope is available to download on Kindle via Amazon or order via www.leonfordspeaks.com
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
INDIA'S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS
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More on animal trafficking
Asia Cup 2018 final
Who: India v Bangladesh
When: Friday, 3.30pm, Dubai International Stadium
Watch: Live on OSN Cricket HD
The five pillars of Islam
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
ELECTION%20RESULTS
%3Cp%3EMacron%E2%80%99s%20Ensemble%20group%20won%20245%20seats.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20second-largest%20group%20in%20parliament%20is%20Nupes%2C%20a%20leftist%20coalition%20led%20by%20Jean-Luc%20Melenchon%2C%20which%20gets%20131%20lawmakers.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20far-right%20National%20Rally%20fared%20much%20better%20than%20expected%20with%2089%20seats.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20centre-right%20Republicans%20and%20their%20allies%20took%2061.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETuhoon%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYear%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFares%20Ghandour%2C%20Dr%20Naif%20Almutawa%2C%20Aymane%20Sennoussi%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Ehealth%20care%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E15%20employees%2C%20%24250%2C000%20in%20revenue%0D%3Cbr%3EI%3Cstrong%3Envestment%20stage%3A%20s%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWamda%20Capital%2C%20Nuwa%20Capital%2C%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tips for SMEs to cope
- Adapt your business model. Make changes that are future-proof to the new normal
- Make sure you have an online presence
- Open communication with suppliers, especially if they are international. Look for local suppliers to avoid delivery delays
- Open communication with customers to see how they are coping and be flexible about extending terms, etc
Courtesy: Craig Moore, founder and CEO of Beehive, which provides term finance and working capital finance to SMEs. Only SMEs that have been trading for two years are eligible for funding from Beehive.
Points classification after Stage 4
1. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) 124
2. Marcel Kittel (Germany / Quick-Step) 81
3. Michael Matthews (Australia / Sunweb) 66
4. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) 63
5. Alexander Kristoff (Norway / Katusha) 43
The biog
Hobbies: Writing and running
Favourite sport: beach volleyball
Favourite holiday destinations: Turkey and Puerto Rico
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
heading
Iran has sent five planeloads of food to Qatar, which is suffering shortages amid a regional blockade.
A number of nations, including Iran's major rival Saudi Arabia, last week cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of funding terrorism, charges it denies.
The land border with Saudi Arabia, through which 40% of Qatar's food comes, has been closed.
Meanwhile, mediators Kuwait said that Qatar was ready to listen to the "qualms" of its neighbours.
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
Race card
4pm Al Bastakiya Listed US$300,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
4.35pm Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,200m
5.10pm Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 $350,000 (Turf) 1,200m
5.45pm Burj Nahaar Group 3 $350,000 (D) 1,600m
6.20pm Jebel Hatta Group 1 $400,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $600,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Dubai City Of Gold Group 2 $350,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections:
4pm Zabardast
4.35pm Ibn Malik
5.10pm Space Blues
5.45pm Kimbear
6.20pm Barney Roy
6.55pm Matterhorn
7.30pm Defoe
RACE CARD
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 (PA) Listed Dh230,000 1,600m
6.30pm: HH The President’s Cup (PA) Group 1 Dh2.5million 2,200m
7pm: HH The President’s Cup (TB) Listed Dh380,000 1,400m
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,200m.
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
Company%20profile%20
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Read more about the coronavirus
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
Kandahar%20
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MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
DUBAI%20BLING%3A%20EPISODE%201
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Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
Engine: 2.2-litre, turbodiesel
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Power: 160hp
Torque: 385Nm
Price: Dh116,900
On sale: now
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
