Rest in power, Lawrence Reyes. I believe I met Lawrence for the first time in 2007. It was during the Chicano Mexicano Prison Project’s annual conference. We spoke about Borikua-Chicano solidarity and, more specifically, Brown Beret-Young Lords Party solidarity in Chicago. We both shared a dignified rage over the murder of Amadou Diallo.
I met up again with Lawrence after the Black Panthers, “San Francisco 8,” were rearrested and Borikua political prisoner Rafael Cancel Miranda was freed. Lawrence introduced me to Rafael and a Black Panther brother and made sure I got safely back to where I was staying afterward.
It wasn’t until 2018 that I would see Lawrence again after Borikua political prisoner Oscar Lopez Rivera’s release. Lawrence was about unity; I mean, he was really about it. That’s something I will forever appreciate about him. ¡Lawrence Reyes, presente hoy y para siempre!