Man rolling to Chicago in wheelchair to combat violence

Published 12:38 pm Monday, October 10, 2016

DALTON, Ga. — Vincent Robinson said when he heard “a voice” last year telling him to travel from Atlanta to Chicago by wheelchair, not only did he ignore it, but he was afraid to tell anyone.

“I thought people would think I’m crazy,” said Robinson, 44, who is traveling nearly 800 miles to bring awareness to the problems of violence.

Robinson left from the Georgia state Capitol on Sept. 27 pushing down U.S. Highway 41. He arrived in Dalton Monday evening a week ago.

Sheila Powell of Calhoun was driving to pick up her grandchildren in Dalton when she saw Robinson rolling down the road. His uncle, Freddy Handspike, was following close behind in a black van.

“I saw them again when I came back and made a U-turn,” said Powell. 

Powell’s son-in-law owns Antonio’s, a restaurant on South Dixie Highway. Powell told them to meet her at the restaurant and she would buy their meal. 

“I think it’s great what he’s doing and I’m going to be praying for him all the way,” she said. “Policemen have stopped and patted him on the back and congratulated him.”

Violence is a topic that is not foreign to Robinson. He said he’s lived a life of violence, shot at the age of 16 because of it, and violence resulted in Robinson becoming wheelchair-bound.

He said on Nov. 6, 1992, he was shot in Atlanta. He was 20. The shooting left him in a coma from Nov. 6 until January 1993.

While in the coma, Robinson said, he developed a gangrene infection and as a result his legs were amputated. The shooter was recently released from prison after serving almost 18 years, according to Robinson.  

Robinson admits after the shooting he continued on a path of violence. 

“I was a product of my environment,” he said. “I was into drugs and women, you name it, I was into it.”

He said it wasn’t until 2004 that he completely left the life of crime. He said it was the love for his four kids that stopped him. 

“After dropping my kids off at the park and going around the corner to make a drug sale, something hit me one day,” Robinson said.

He said all the kids were aware of his lifestyle, but it was his 6-year-old son who brought it to his attention. 

“At that point I told them daddy won’t do that anymore,” Robinson recalls. “I haven’t touched anything since then.”

Robinson said he’s made it his mission to speak out against violence.  

“Stop the violence, love for humanity, peace, unity for everybody, that’s what was put in my heart,” he said. “I just felt like love solves everything. If we begin to love each other then all the problems will slowly go away.”

Handspike said he remembers when his nephew was “in the streets.”

“It was kind of rough,” he said. “I’m just glad he stopped and when he did everything was fine.”

Handspike said he decided to drive behind Robinson to make sure he isn’t hit by a car.

“I love him to death, I’ll do anything for him, and didn’t want him to be out here alone,” he said.

The plan was to push 50 miles a day and get to Chicago in 15 days. But Robinson said he’s being “delayed” by people. 

“I’ve been meeting so many nice people along the way,” he said. “They come up hugging me and wanting to talk. It’s like they want to feel this energy I have.” 

One of those people is Larry Andrews of Cartersville. Andrews and his family were headed to church last Sunday when Robinson passed by his home. 

“He literally rolled by my house, I saw him and the wheelchair, then I saw the ‘stop the violence’ sign on the back of the van,” Andrews said. “My wife and I decided to stop and fellowship with them.”

The family also had Sunday dinner with them in the park.

“Larry has been so supportive since I met him,” Robinson said.

Andrews has paid for motel stays and meals while Robinson was in Georgia, helping them through Ringgold to the Tennessee line.

“We are one America and it’s not about the color of your skin,” Andrews said. “It’s about what’s in your heart.”

The push hasn’t been easy. Robinson said his arms get sore and even develop knots.

A family member suggested he push some of the way and ride in the van some to give his body rest, but Robinson refuses.

“That defeats the point. I’m sacrificing my body, soul, spirit and everything because I want people to know I’m doing this for them,” Robinson said.  

He said he’s willing to sacrifice everything to bring awareness to what’s going on with violence.

“I love everybody despite their race, sexual preference or past,” he said. “I had a bad past, your past does not define you, it prepares you.”

Robinson said he honestly didn’t want to go to Chicago.

“Vincent the flesh had a war going on within myself, but God said ‘You’re going.’” 

He said God has given him so many signs.

“I think my mission is to not only get to Chicago, but to also help people along the way,” he said.

To follow his journey and donate to the cause, visit www.gofundme.com/VincentSpeaksKeepP.