First they came for the immigrants
And I did not speak out
Because I was not an immigrant
— No, wait. I DID speak out
Because I believe that everyone in this country has a right to due process
Then they came for the trans people
And I need you to know that I DID speak out
Not because I am transgendered but because I believe people should not be targeted simply for being who they are
They came for the FBI investigators and the DOJ prosecutors
And I DID speak out
Not because I am an investigator or a prosecutor
But because I believe investigators and prosecutors should not be fired for doing their jobs
They came for the DEI hires
And I DID speak out
Not because I am a DEI hire but because I believe that workers are no less qualified just because their skin is brown or black, or they have a uterus, or they have a disability unrelated to the job requirements
Then they came for the other civil servants and the nonpartisan career officials
And I DID speak out
Not because I am a civil servant or a career official but because I believe federal employees should not be terminated without cause
Then they came for the Episcopal bishop
And the public health doctor
And the 4-star general
And I DID speak out
Not because I am a bishop, or a doctor, or a general, but because I believe that truth tellers need to be heard
He promised “revenge and retribution”
He promised to come for the “radical left”
And the “deep state”
And those who are “woke”
And the members of the Jan 6 Select Committee
And the FBI agents
And the lawyers
And the judges
And the journalists
And the historians
And the environmentalists
And the scientists
And anyone else who has the courage to speak out
I am not one of his targets – yet
But I believe that democracy is worth speaking out for
I refuse to be complicit in its destruction
I am NOT afraid
I am NOT alone
And WE will NOT be silent.
This is in the form of a poem — not sure you take those.
It was inspired by the well-known poem by Martin Niemoller
Miriam Johnson, PhD, MSW
Columbia
