First They Came...
An adapted version of the original Martin Niemöller poem done by Steve Rohde for the film "Unconstitutional: The War on our Civil Liberties"
First they came for the Muslims
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Muslim.
Then they came for the immigrants detaining them 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 no longer participated in any groups.
Then they came to arrest American citizens and hold them indefinitely without any charges and without access to lawyers,
and I didn't speak up because I would never be arrested.
Then they came to institute TIPS, the " Terrorism Information and Prevention System," recruiting citizens to spy on other citizens,
and I didn't speak up because I was afraid.
Then they came to institute Total Information Awareness, collecting private data on every man, woman and child in America,
and I didn't speak up because I couldn't do anything about it.
Then they came for immigrants and students from selective countries luring them under the requirement of "special registration" as a ruse to seize them and detain them,
and I didn't speak up because I was not required to register.
Then they came for anyone who objected to government policy because it only 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.
