"SILENCE"

In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews. and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.

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

When they didn't allow women to vote, I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a woman.

When they told me I could get AIDS, I didn't worry. because I didn't think a woman could get it.

When they passed laws to move the homeless out of my city, I didn't speak up, because I had a place to live.

And when they came for me, no one was left to speak up.

When they said blacks didn't deserve to be treated the same as whites, I didn't speak up, because I was white.

When the Korean grocer's store was burned down, I didn't speak up, because I wasn't Korean.

When the student next to me didn't come to school, they said he'd been shot by a gang. I didn't speak up, because I didn't live in that neighborhood.

When my boss bragged about beating up on his wife to keep her in line, I didn't speak up, because I'm a man.

When I was told that my next door neighbor was abusing his children, I didn't speak up, because he seemed like such a nice man.

When my friend told me she'd been raped, I didn't speak up, because it could never happen to me.

When Anita Hill was being interrogated by the all white, all male panel for the Supreme court hearings. I didn't speak up. because I couldn't be sure she was telling the truth.

And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak up.

When they came for those who wanted freedom of expression. I didn't speak up, because 1 didn't have anything to say.

When they came for the demonstrators for pro choice, I didn't speak up, because I wasn't pregnant.

When they came after all the people with AIDS, I didn't speak up, because I'd never been tested.

When the police pulled over a black man who was driving his car, for no reason, I didn't speak up, because it was none of my business.

When they rounded up all the Latino'~ in the neighborhood for questioning. I didn't speak up. because I wasn't Latino.

When the woman in a wheelchair couldn't use a city bus, I didn't speak up, because it didn't affect me.

And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak up.

When they came after all the gay rights activists, I didn't speak up, because I was straight.

When they decided to raise the taxes on the poor, I didn't speak up, because I had enough money.

When they voted against unemployment benefits, I didn't speak up, because I had a job.

When my community arts organization lost all it's funding because of a project they funded insulted city officials, I didn't speak up, because I never went there.

When the elderly woman next door got evicted because her social security check got lost, I didn't speak up, because I didn't know her.

And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak up.

When the news media exploited the LA riots for a ratings race, I didn't speak up, because I always believe the news.

When my favorite TV program exploited women and stereotyped blacks, I didn't speak up, because I didn't see anything wrong with a good joke.

When ]esse Helms said he doesn't think the government should be funding art, I didn't speak up, because I never got grants anyway.

When President Bush created the Gulf War, 1 didn't speak up, because I didn't know what was going on in politics anyway.

When my rent got doubled because a developer wanted to tear down my apartment, I didn't speak up, because I didn't think I had a chance.

When the artist got arrested for burning the flag, I didn't speak up, because I just figured it would turn out all right anyway. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak up.