Leon Ford Premieres Play on Forgiveness
The production follows the events surrounding the 2012 police shooting in Pittsburgh.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Criminal Justice
On Sept. 16, 2026, Leon Ford premiered his play The Weight of Forgiveness at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center. The production explores the aftermath of his 2012 shooting by a Pittsburgh police officer.
Why it matters
Ford created the two-person play to process personal trauma while investigating complex concepts of accountability and forgiveness. The premiere also served as a fundraiser for local initiatives including the Community Safety Innovation Fund.
The City of Pittsburgh reached a $5.5 million civil settlement with Leon Ford in 2018 regarding the 2012 shooting. The legal resolution followed Ford being shot five times by Officer David Derbish.
The players
Leon Ford
He is a Pittsburgh activist and co-founder of The Hear Foundation who was paralyzed after being shot five times by police.
David Derbish
He is the Pittsburgh Police officer who was involved in the 2012 shooting of Leon Ford in the city's Highland Park neighborhood.
The details
The play features two actors portraying Leon Ford and Officer David Derbish, based on an actual face-to-face conversation between the two men. Proceeds from the performance support the Bridging the Badge program at Pittsburgh Westinghouse High School.
Timeline
Nov. 11, 2012: Leon Ford was shot by a police officer.
2018: The City of Pittsburgh settled with Leon Ford.
2026: Community Safety Innovation Fund invested $10,000 in grassroots leaders.
Sept. 16, 2026: Premiere of the play The Weight of Forgiveness.
Legal Context
The production re-examines the 2012 Highland Park police shooting, marking a transition from a 2018 legal settlement to public narrative exploration. This shift reflects broader trends in how victims of police violence use creative expression to address institutional trauma.
Proceeds from the play support local initiatives like the Bridging the Badge program at Pittsburgh Westinghouse High School. Residents can participate in these safety efforts through the Community Safety Innovation Fund, which invested $10,000 in local leadership in 2026.
The takeaway
Artistic projects can provide new avenues for community members to process historical tensions in their city. By funding local safety programs, the production demonstrates how personal reconciliation can lead to tangible civic investment.
Further reading
Learn more about local legal matters at Pittsburgh Criminal Justice.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New Pittsburgh Courier.
