First They Came (2025)

By Naima Averoff

Based on the 1946 Poem "First They Came" by Martin Niemoller

First, they came for the Ukrainians 

And I did not speak out

Because I was not Ukrainian 

Then they came for the immigrants 

And I did not speak out 

Because I was not an immigrant 

Then they came for the Palestinians 

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Palestinian

Then they came for the LGBTQ+

And I did not speak out

Because I was not LGBTQ+

Then they came for the African Americans

And I did not speak out

Because I was not an African American

Then they came for me

And there was no one left

To speak out for me.

First they came (1946)

By Martin Niemoller

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