To: The Carceral State Project
From: Tyrone Lee Reyes
How do I feel about what is happening?
It’s tough because I can’t be with my precious mama and family. Even though I know she’s in good hands, it hurts. Calling her almost on a daily basis, is only a small fix. I am truly blessed to know my family for the most part has put aside their differences and is being there for one another. This is the perfect time for everyone to reflect upon their life and figure out what they want in life.
I feel sorry for everyone affected by this virus in prison. I can’t imagine what they and their family is going prisons around the state. I pray for them all throughout the day, because I don’t know what else to do.
I also hate that some of these guys wouldn’t be in this predicament if a better plan of action to handle this pandemic was put into place by those making decisions on how to handle it. I don’t want it to seem as if I am one hundred percent critical of officials making decisions that affects all of our lives. I continue to tell my fellow incarcerated brothers, that we are in this together with the staff and officers of these prisons. Most of them is in disagreement with how things is being handled.
It’s devastating to see this virus hit so close with a friend of mine losing his grandmother, mother, cousin and several more family members testing positive. He is handling himself very well. All I could tell him is to think about his precious mother and how she would want him to conduct himself. Other than that, all I can do for him is pray and be there for him when he need someone to talk to.
During this moment in our history, I’ve been calm and thinking rationally for the sake of my family and those around me. While others is reacting fearfully, paranoid, and sometimes too over dramatically. It’s time to stay calm and be smart once in our lifetime. I want something positively to come out of this when it’s over with. After everyone has mourn their lost ones, discussions need to be held as to how we’re going to be prepared if a once in a generation pandemic like this happens again. Not just for society, but for the incarcerated too. In my heart I believe that those tested positive, could’ve been prevented.
