Adapted from the poem by Martin Nienoller “First They Came For The Jews” in response to the poem “Danger of Silence”

 

First they came for the African-Americans.

and I did not speak out

because I was not African-American.

 

Then they came for the Muslims

and I did not speak out

because I was not Muslim.

 

Then they came for the homosexuals and transgenders

and I did not speak out

because I was not homosexual or transgender.

 

Now when will they come for me

because I was too busy or too apathetic

to defend my sisters and brothers?