“First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the communists and I did not speak out – because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for me …. and there was no one left to speak out for me.”
Martin Niemoller, Lutheran Pastor 1937.
The poem is attributed to Lutheran Pastor Martin Niemoller. He was arrested in 1937 for his anti-nazi activities and spent seven years in concentration camps. He later regretted that he was silent on the persecution of the Jews and had only spoken out for Jews who had converted to Christianity.
Quote found in the Guardian 31 January 1995
