A Call for Action

First they came for undocumented immigrants, and I did not speak out– because I was not an undocumented immigrant;

Then they came for the foreign born, and I did not speak out– because I was not foreign born;

Then they came for legal residents, and I did not speak out– because I was not a legal resident;

Then they came for naturalized citizens and I did not speak out — because I was not a naturalized citizen;

Then they came for the children of parents who were undocumented and I did not speak out — because I was not a child whose parents were undocumented;

Then they came for the children of parents who were legal residents and I did not speak out — because I was not a child whose parents were legal residents;

Then they came for the children of parents who were naturalized citizens and I did not speak out — because I was not a child whose parents were naturalized citizens;

Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak out for me.

– John Palacio, 2006

The above is a modified version of this:

First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out– because I was not a communist; Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out– because I was not a socialist; Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out– because I was not a trade unionist; Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out– because I was not a Jew; Then they came for me– and there was no one left to speak out for me. -Pastor Martin Niemiller, 1945

KJ