no one left to speak out. - Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

When the Nazis came for the communists,

I remained silent;

I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.


When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.


When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I was not a Jew.


When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.


A poem of Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) [1]
(1976 version)