The New York Daily News has beaten me to it.  For two days I have been wracking my brain for an appropriate statement from Hitler’s Germany to compare to Donald Trump’s demagoguery about Muslims. Today the cover of the Daily News has this quote with a picture of Trump cutting of the head of the Statue of Liberty:

“When Trump came for the Mexicans, I did not speak out – as I was not a Mexican.  When he came  for the Muslims, I did not speak out – as I was not a Muslim.  Then he came for  me.”

This statement references the most popular version of a quote from Martin Niemöller, a prominent German Protestant pastor. The first version was spoken during a speech on January 6, 1946, to the representatives of the Confessing Church in Frankfurt.

“First they came for the Jews
and 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 me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.”

Compare these statements  with the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: 34 – 40:

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? ^“

The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

It’s time to speak out!