Letter: Will we speak out?

“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a socialist. 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 Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.”

This well-known quote is attributed to Martin Niemoller, a German Lutheran pastor, one of many religious leaders in Germany whose sermons critical of the Nazis resulted in incarceration in Nazi concentration camps. Presently, our president and his administration’s policies are singling out anyone who is vulnerable as not being worthy of concern or respect. Will we speak up with our vote?

KATHLEEN ROONEY

Concord