First They Came for the Strangers
This is the opening line to a short song and video collage showing how ICE in the USA are acting in a way that brings to mind the famous Niemoller poem. Written in 1946 in Germany Niemoller speaks of a time under the Nazi regime.
It opens with the line “First they came for the communists / And I did not speak out because I was not a communist”. This is followed by a list of various groups being taken away noting that “I did not speak out”.
It ends with the words,” then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me”
My original plan, working with a talented video artist, was to emphasise the historical connection between Niemoller’s poem, the Nazi regime, the Gestapo and current ICE tactics in the USA but decided there was no need.
The clips of the ICE agents are terrifying enough in their violence and obvious fascist imagery.
Niemoller’s poem has relevance today and I hope my adaption of the writer’s intentions to our current situation will reinforce the importance of learning from history, recognising fascism and pushing back against its use of violence, fear and intimidation.
It opens with the line “First they came for the communists / And I did not speak out because I was not a communist”. This is followed by a list of various groups being taken away noting that “I did not speak out”.
It ends with the words,” then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me”
My original plan, working with a talented video artist, was to emphasise the historical connection between Niemoller’s poem, the Nazi regime, the Gestapo and current ICE tactics in the USA but decided there was no need.
The clips of the ICE agents are terrifying enough in their violence and obvious fascist imagery.
Niemoller’s poem has relevance today and I hope my adaption of the writer’s intentions to our current situation will reinforce the importance of learning from history, recognising fascism and pushing back against its use of violence, fear and intimidation.