#JUSTICEFORLEON

This story is a little bit different than Travyon Martin’s, we still do remember him right? The one we wore hoodies for, bought t-shirts for, blacked out social network profile pictures for, the one who we stood up for, the one we were the voice for and yet received no justice. Sadly, Travyon Martin was unable to get his side of his story heard, but Leon Ford has survived to be able to. This paralyzed survivor of racial profiling and police brutality is more than deserving to have the truth to be told and that is all he wants.

On November 11, 2012, an officer with the Pittsburg (Pennsylvania) Bureau of Police shot an African American 19 year old male, Leon Ford, five times during a supposedly routine traffic stop. When the three police officers approached Leon Ford, he was no other than a law abiding citizen, providing proper documentation that they asked for which was his: license, registration and proof of insurance. As they were checking his name, the initials “L Ford”appeared in a recently arrested list. This was Lamont Ford that they had found and Leon was mistaken for him. (PROFILED) Lamont Ford’s description was a black male, with a white t-shirt. (REALLY?!) Questioning and doubting his identity, the officers then try to pull Leon out of the car after threatening and harassing him. Violating standard policies and procedures, an officer jumps in on the passenger side of the car, claiming he saw a barrel of a gun... (WAIT, WHY WOULD YOU JUMP IN THE CAR IF YOU THOUGHT HE HAD A GUN?!) Somehow the car shifts in a different gear, and shortly after you hear 5 gun shots. While in complete distress over hearing about the incident on the news, Leon’s parents rushed to the hospital to see their son, but that didn't happen. They were denied to see their son and they continued to wait for over seven days. After being left paralyzed from the waist down, the tragedy doesn't end here… Leon is being charged with serious criminal charges that could put him in prison for a minimum of 20 years. A police officer is claiming that Leon dragged him down the street with his car…

Leon is no longer able to walk. He can’t wrestle and play football with his son like he planned on doing. Leon’s physical dreams for his future have been deferred. Leon’s parents are asking that these false charges be dropped, and that the officer who shot Leon be held accountable. To sum it up, Leon got pulled over for running a stop sign, he gave his license, registration, and insurance, but instead of getting a ticket he was shot five times and paralyzed. Can we be that same voice for Leon as we were for Travyon? www.justiceforleon.com

#JUSTICEFORLEON   

Video Provided by the Huffington Post :  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/08/leon-ford-cop-shooting-video_n_2837802.html

Guest Writer : Janae Johnson for Urban Echelon Magazine and Blogspot