Then They Came for Me

Ran across this on the web by chance. Petty good.

Then They Came for Me
by Stephen F. Rohde, Esq.

First they came for the Muslims, and I didn't speak up because I
wasn't a Muslim.

Then they came to detain immigrants indefinitely solely upon the
certification of the Attorney General, and I didn't speak up because I
wasn't an immigrant.

Then they came to eavesdrop on suspects consulting with their
attorneys, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a suspect.

Then they came to prosecute non-citizens before secret military
commissions, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a non-citizen.

Then they came to enter homes and offices for unannounced "sneak
and peek" searches, and I didn't speak up because I had nothing to
hide.

Then they came to reinstate Cointelpro and resume the infiltration
and surveillance of domestic religious and political groups, and I
didn't speak up because I had stopped participating in any groups.

Then they came for anyone who objected to government policy because
it aided the terrorists and gave ammunition to America's enemies, and
I didn't speak up because...... I didn't speak up.

Then they came for me....... and by that time no one was left to speak up.

Stephen Rohde, a constitutional lawyer and President of the ACLU of
Southern California, is indebted to the inspiration of Rev. Martin
Niemoller (1937).