[Poster circulated in Bombay by Secular Activists in 1995 to counter the propaganda and hate campaign against Bangaldeshi migrants to India]

Berlin, 1939:

First they came for the Jews,
But I did not speak out,
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists,
And I did not speak out,
Because I was not a Communist.

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 Catholics,
And I did not speak out,
Because I was not a Catholic.

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

- Pastor Niemller (Anti-Nazi Resistance Movement)

Bombay, 1995:

First they came for the Bangladeshis,
But I did not speak out,
Because I was not a Bangladeshi.

Then they came for the Muslims,
And I did not speak out,
Because I was not a Muslim.

Then they came for the Communists,
And I did not speak out,
Because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade-unionists,
And I did not speak out,
Because I was not a trade-unionist.

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

(With apologies to Pastor Niemller)
COMMUNAL HATRED AFFECTS ALL OF US;
SPEAK OUT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

---

Return to South Asia Citizens Web