Tag: justice

The Question God is Asking

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

“Can a corrupt throne be allied with You—a throne that brings on misery by its decrees? The wicked band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. Psalm 94:20-21 (New International Version)

Whoever says that the Bible isn’t political hasn’t read the Bible. Read the prophets. It is impossible to avoid their words of condemnation for the unjust policies, abuses of power and evil practices of the “princes” and their powerful allies. Their corruption, their schemes, and their lies and their cover-ups are named and exposed. Here are a few examples:

Isaiah 10:1 “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees.

Jeremiah 22:13 “Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, his upper rooms by injustice, making his own people work for nothing, not paying them for their labor.”

Ezekiel 34:2 “Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves!”

Micah 2:1 “Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it.”

Habakkuk 2:12 “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!”

Zephaniah 3:1 “Woe to the city of oppressors, rebellious and defiled!”

Zechariah 11:17 “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock!”

The unknown writer of Psalm 94 is also aware of the corruption around him. But instead of exposing the corruption (“Woe to those who…”), he calls out to God, “Rise up, Judge of the earth!” and lists all the atrocities committed by the powerful. He knows that God sees what is happening and has faith that God will turn it all around. But still, there is the question: “How long will God wait?”

I can relate. I know the corruption of our leaders. I see the direct impact of their policies–hunger, fear, detainment, death. I know God must see it too, and I’m confident that God will turn it around…but when? “How long?” I want God to intervene to correct the injustices and hold the perpetrators accountable sooner than later because we may not survive their abuse.

But then, God asks a question of the Psalmist: “Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?” (Psalm 94:16) God is looking for those on the ground who are willing to step up to participate in the resistance. God is asking for someone to say “Woe to those who…” and announce, “We see you. We are holding you accountable. And God, Judge of the earth, sees you too and will restore justice for those you have harmed.”

Who will answer God’s question? Who will stand up and speak up? Who will demand accountability? This is THE question for God’s people now. It is God’s call to prophetic action in the face of corrupt leaders and their death-dealing, oppressive policies that target the most vulnerable. The role is not easy. Even the Psalmist felt anxious, but he found courage in God’s unfailing love and promise of protection. We can too. So answer God’s question. “I will rise for righteousness. I will take a stand for God’s justice.”

Mishandling the Word of Truth – Part 3

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8

This verse is the culmination of Isaiah’s call to his prophetic ministry. God is looking for someone who will speak on God’s behalf to the people of Israel and Judah. After experiencing the overwhelming majestic presence of God in a vision and receiving the assurance of God’s touch of forgiveness and grace, Isaiah volunteers to join God’s mission.

This Bible verse is now being used in a video posted on X by the Department of Homeland Security to recruit Border Patrol officers and ICE agents to participate in the mission to capture, detain, and deport migrants who have crossed into the United States. Though the video can no longer be viewed at the DHS website (due to copyright infringement), it was watched 2.8 million times. The video can be viewed HERE.

Inclusion of the Bible verse in a recruitment video suggests that protecting the United States from the invasion of foreigners is a God-ordained mission, and stepping up to participate in the mission is a high spiritual calling—an act of spiritual devotion.

This is yet another example of “Mishandling the Word of Truth.” The mission promoted by the DHS is completely opposite of the mission God gave to Isaiah. Instead being sent to protect Israel’s borders or to round up and deport foreigners, Isaiah was sent to the leaders of Israel and Judah to rebuke them for their failure to act justly toward the poor, the vulnerable and the refugee and to announced God’s impending judgment—judgment that would remove them from the land into exile.

Stopping migrants from crossing the border or chasing down and incarcerating undocumented farm workers is NOT a godly mission commanded by God or commended by God. God condemns the nation that “makes unjust laws and issues oppressive decrees to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.” (Isaiah 10:1-2).

The distorted use of Scripture by the current administration to justify injustice and promote cruelty under the banner of righteousness should offend every Christian. It is blasphemy. And if we fail to discern the Scripture twisting and fail to call it out, we will fall under the judgment Isaiah announced to those who have ears, but do not hear.

Whoever has ears, let them hear.

Dear Mike Johnson,

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Overnight, the House of Representatives passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act –and you, Mr. Speaker took a victory lap. I don’t understand. Back in 2023, in an interview with Sean Hannity, you said, “I am a Bible-believing Christian. Someone asked me today in the media, they said, “It’s curious, people are curious. ‘What does Mike Johnson think about any issue under the sun?’” I said, “Well, go pick up a Bible off your shelf and read it – that’s my worldview. That’s what I believe and so I make no apologies for it.”

So, I picked up my Bible and read it. And I am curious. Mr. Speaker, Isaiah 58:10 says, “If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.” But you just passed a bill that cuts SNAP food assistance for low-income families. And Proverbs 14:31 says, “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” But your Big Beautiful Bill will take away healthcare for millions of poor and needy people. Where is the kindness in that? Does taking benefits from the poor to give tax breaks to the rich honor God? I think not.

Mr. Speaker, the Bible says, ““Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” (Proverbs 3:27 – ESV). You had the power to “do good’, but instead, you withheld it from those in need.

Please, stop rejoicing as if you have accomplished some righteous deed while your brothers and sisters are weeping. Oh, and by the way, the Bible says to a people who have forsaken God’s ways: “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:15-17)

Mr. Speaker, there is still time to “learn to do right.” The Big Beautiful Bill will return to the House for final approval. You have the opportunity to use your power to obey God and do the right thing.

I’m praying for you.

God’s DEI Program

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Thirty-nine years ago today, my sister suffered a debilitating stroke. She was just 33 years old. The exact cause of the stroke was never determined. She had none of the medical issues that would increase her risk of stroke. In fact, she had just participated in an 5K race the week before. The stroke left her permanently impaired on her right side, and she lost the full use of her dominant right arm and hand–a condition that required her to learn how to do everything–including writing–with her left hand.

Her body may be impaired, and it may take her an hour for an activity that would take 30 minutes for a person with two hands, but she is not unable to have a meaningful and purpose-filled life. She is a peer mentor for stroke patients; she participates in multiple stroke studies; she assists student doctors and physical therapist in what is called “educational modeling.” She has walked two half-marathons. She has climbed the 103 flights of stairs to the top of the Sears Tower…twice. She has even jumped out of an airplane (skydiving). She ties her shoes with one hand! I still don’t know how she does that, and I’ve tried multiple times to master it without success. I joke that she has done more with half a brain than most people do with a whole brain. It’s actually not a joke. It is accurate. And beneath it all, her faith in God has sustained her through every challenge.

So often, people with disabilities are dismissed and devalued. The word “disability” implies “lack of ability.” People with disabilities are perceived to be “takers” and “dependents” and a “drain on society.” Occasionally, my sister needs help–but who doesn’t? Not one of us is truly fully independent; and not one of us could survive without the supports of social networks and societal programs.

My sister has taught me that abilities come in a variety of forms. And every “body”–every person–regardless of appearance is, in the words of the Psalmist, “fearfully and wonderfully made,” (Psalm 139:14), and all people bear the stamp of God’s image (Genesis 1:26). She has also reminded me that God has purposely chosen and used the undervalued, the underestimated and the overlooked throughout history. In the words of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before [God].”

These verses articulate God’s own DEI program–a program that elevates those who have been cast aside and scapegoated because of their “disability,” their gender, their economic status, their race, their ethnicity, or their documentation. The powerful and the wealthy of the world would discount my sister and others like her. Thankfully, God sees things differently and delights in the diversity of God’s people, opens the doors of equal opportunity and includes them as full-fledged (never second-class) citizens of God’s kin-dom.

And if God chooses the foolish, weak, lowly and despised by the world’s measurements, who are we to reject them? And if we do reject them, how will we justify it before God?

The Crucifixion and Burial of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Every Good Friday, whether you are Roman Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, United Methodist, or UCC, Isaiah 53 will be included in the readings for the day’s worship service. The passage describes the suffering of God’s innocent servant. And though it was written long before Jesus walked the earth, it uncannily mirrors the events of Jesus’s arrest, sham trial, execution and burial. But as I was reading the Isaiah 53 today–especially verse 8–another innocent man came to my mind.

Isaiah 53:8 – ‘The Voice’ translation

Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away.
    From this generation, who was there to complain?
Who was there to cry “Foul”?
    He was, after all, cut off from the land of the living,
Smacked and struck, not on his account,
    because of how my people (my people!)
Disregarded the lines between right and wrong.

The innocent man’s name is Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Garcia, a legally protected immigrant, was detained by ICE without cause, condemned without due process, cut off from his family and from legal protection, and buried in a notorious prison (known as CECOT) in El Salvador by the US government that first admitted his deportation was an “administrative error”, then claimed it had no power to find him or extract him, and now claims to have found “proof” of his gang affiliation, justifying his deportation to CECOT. The President of El Salvador has also refused to release him, claiming he is a terrorist.

Despite advocates who have cried, “FOUL!” and despite judges (including the Supreme Court) who have ruled in his favor, he remains–and likely will remain–buried because of the blatant disregard for the law and the lines between right and wrong.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been crushed before our eyes. He is not the only one.

Mahmoud Khalil was accused of terrorism for exercising his right to freedom of speech. His crime was speaking against the genocide in Gaza at Columbia University in New York; He was detained by ICE without being charged of a crime and sent to a Louisiana detention center over a 1000 miles from his legal representative and his pregnant wife–a US citizen. This week, a Louisiana judge ruled that Department of Homeland Security can proceed with his deportation. DHS has claimed that he is a threat to national security.

Jose Barco, a US veteran, served two tours in Iraq and was awarded a Purple Heart for his heroic actions to save his fellow-servicemen when a bomb exploded. Barco suffered PTSD and a traumatic brain injury from the explosion which was never adequately treated. Following his service, he applied for naturalization–a process that was never completed. DHS tried to deport him to Venezuela, but the country denied him entry. He now sits in an ICE detention center in Colorado while the US government decides what to do next.

Jerce Reyes Barrios, a Venezuelan who followed all the rules to seek asylum, was detained and sent to CECOT without due process, accused of being a gang member solely on the basis of a tattoo and a hand gesture.

Mario René López, a US citizen, has been sitting in a Virginia ICE detention center for 2 years due to legal questions regarding the validity of his citizenship claim.

Every day, innocent people are being harassed and taken away–leaving children without mothers and fathers. Some are disappeared, buried in detention centers and foreign prisons. And few of God’s people are objecting or crying “Foul!” Some even support the lawlessness and the cruelty of these unjust detainments and deportations.

I’ve often thought of the crowd crying out for Jesus’s crucifixion and asked myself, “How could they condemn an innocent man?” I’ve also wondered, “What would I have done if I had been there?” Jesus is being crucified again and again, and we are there.

We need to ask ourselves, “What are we going to do?” Will we disregard the line between right and wrong? Will we be silent? Will we turn away and be complicit through our denial? Will we, like those in Isaiah 53:4, “consider him punished by God,  stricken by [God], and afflicted,” not realizing that it is we that have gone astray and that Jesus’s suffering is because of our sin? Or will we cry “Foul!”? God, help us.

Palm Sunday Is a Protest

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Yesterday, like many Christians around the world, I waved my palm branches as I processed around the church sanctuary and shouted, “Hosanna!” in honor of Jesus’s “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem. The gathered congregation welcomed Jesus, the King of Kings, into the safety of our sacred space. We sang praise songs, we prayed prayers of thanksgiving, we read the Scriptures and listened to Rev. Lindsey Long’s sermon.

The sermon started with a provocative assessment: “Palm Sunday was a well-organized protest march.” Think about it: the “King” riding on a donkey (subverting a Roman military parade); the Palms (a proud symbol of marginalized identity waved in defiance); the chants (“Blessed is the One who comes in the Name of the Lord!”–a direct challenge to the “ones” who come in the name of Empire.) No wonder the authorities tried to stop the event. We know that even peaceful protests can be met with violent resistance. Palm Sunday could have easily turned into “Bloody Sunday.”

Most Palm Sunday worship services end with a Benediction and congregants filing out of the church with their palms in tow to return to the comfort and safety of their homes. Not this one. We took our palms and followed Jesus and the donkey (OK, they were people in costumes) through the streets to protest the policies and executive orders that are dismantling the programs and protections of those who are most vulnerable in our community: Families who depend on SNAP benefits, children who rely on MedicAID, migrants who are being illegally deported without due process, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ folk who are villainized and devalued. But we also announced the coming of the ONE who is the Way, the Truth and the Life and the Good News of the arrival kingdom of heaven where ALL God’s creatures thrive through the reign of God.

Pastor Lindsey reminded us that protest is a holy act. It is using our feet and our voices to denounce the workings of the principalities and powers and to announce the Good News of shalom and salvation to all of creation. So, keep your palms, put on your walking shoes and practice your chants.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7 – NLT)

It’s time for some Holy Protest.

On Saturday, April 19, in cities and towns across the nation, people will be taking to the streets in an act of resistance to the cruel and destructive acts of this administration. Locate a rally close to you HERE. Search for your city or zip code.

Burying Dissent; Sprouting Hope

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

“They tried to bury us, they didn’t know we were seeds.” *

We really wanted to be back in Chicago on Saturday, April 5, to participate in the “Hands Off!” rally at the Daley Center. Instead, we were on a flight back to the US–a flight that finally landed in Boston just shy of Sunday, April 6. When we arrived at our hotel, we were exhausted (travel depletes me), but we were so curious about the rallies that had been held across the country that we turned on the television hoping to find some news. To our disappointment, we saw and heard nothing.

On Sunday, April 6, we got our digital copy of the Chicago Sun-Times, expecting to see coverage of the rally on the front page. Nothing. We scrolled through the pages and finally found a photo and brief story on page 22. Page 22!! We later learned that an estimated 5 million people across the country took to the streets in over 1400 “Hands Off!” rallies across the nation to oppose the Trump/Musk dismantling of the government. Despite the numbers, the media across the country minimized the dissent. The New York Times placed the story on page 18! CNN’s story began with the sentence: “Scores of people took part in protests…” Fox News reported that “Thousands of people gathered across the US.”

Scores? A score is 20 people! Thousands? That was just in Traverse City, Michigan, where 4,000 attended. Why was the media burying the story and minimizing the numbers? Maybe the answer is that peaceful protest doesn’t sell papers or attract viewers. Maybe the answer is that corporate media has been sued by the administration for defamation and threatened with loss of broadcasting licenses and they are running scared. But most likely, the answer is that the owners of the media are part of the oligarchy (such as Jeff Bezos of the Washington Post) who don’t want to fan the flames of discontent. Minimize the dissent, don’t draw attention to the protests, and maybe–hopefully–it will die out.

But the dissent isn’t dying. The resistance is rising and hope for a different future is growing.

On Monday, April 7, Anthony Joel Quezada was sworn in as the newly appointed Alderperson of the 35th Ward in Chicago. That evening, he held a “People’s Inauguration” to celebrate with his supporters. We were privileged to join hundreds (not scores) of our neighbors to congratulate Anthony on his new position.

Anthony Quezada is 29 years old. He is a child of immigrant parents. He has been involved in community organizing and political action since he graduated from Lane Tech High School. He is a bright, articulate, passionate man who is committed to a new kind of governance–a politic rooted in community empowerment and collaborative decision-making. When Anthony took the microphone on Monday night, he didn’t speak about what he was going to accomplish or his legislative agenda. He spoke about what we could–and would–do together to ensure that all voices were heard, all people were treated with dignity, all residents were protected, and all those so frequently excluded were included.

We walked away from the evening full–full of hope as we watched a new generation of visionary leaders take their place. And I heard Mary’s Song welling up in my heart anew: “The Mighty One has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. [The Mighty One] has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.” (Luke 1:52-53)

Amen! Amen! Amen!

The quote at the beginning of this post is often referred to as a Mexican Proverb. However, the origin of the phrase is from Nicaraguan poet, Catholic priest and theologian, Ernesto Cardenal.

Living Woke – Week 3

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Psalm 78 is a Jewish History curriculum for grades K-12. It is written by Asaph to parents who are reminded of God’s mandate that they tell the stories of the past to their children so that the next generation will learn and subsequently pass along the stories to their children.

The goal of the history lesson is two-fold: first, to ensure that each generation will understand God’s role in their history and put their hope in God (vs.6-7) and second, to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. (vs. 8). The rest of the Psalm is account after account of ancestral sin and rebellion against God. The ancestors are not models of virtue, faith or courage. They are presented as ungrateful whiners and faithless idolaters. Despite God’s grace, forbearance and provision, the people keep turning away from God to lawlessness..

THAT is the honest truth. Instead of offering a litany of heroic battles and iconic personalities, Asaph reminds his parent/teachers that those who fail to known the past and learn from it are bound to repeat it. This is hard history for a better future.

Right now, there is a battle over the stories we tell our children. Some are demanding that we tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And the truth is hard–the American apartheid, the forced removal of indigenous peoples from their lands and the slaughter of those who resisted, the generational enslavement of Africans, the lynching trees and the systemic discrimination and disenfranchisement of minorities. Christian author, Jim Wallis, has identified racism and white supremacy supported through Christian Scriptures and manifest destiny as “America’s Original Sin.”

But there has been backlash to all the truth-telling. Many others want to silence the hard history and erase the memory of those who challenged the status quo. They prefer the patriotic stories of the past–the stories of American exceptionalism and American superiority and American glory. Thanks to an Executive Order signed on January 29, 2025, entitled, “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” the hard truths of American history are being whitewashed. The president calls the efforts to include the darker parts of our history “anti-American, subversive, harmful and false,” and demands instead that schools devote themselves to “patriotic education” that will “instill a patriotic admiration for our incredible Nation.” A “Patriotic education” is defined in the following way:
(i) an accurate, honest, unifying, inspiring, and ennobling characterization of America’s founding and foundational principles;
(ii) a clear examination of how the United States has admirably grown closer to its noble principles throughout its history;
(iii) the concept that commitment to America’s aspirations is beneficial and justified; and
(iv) the concept that celebration of America’s greatness and history is proper.

While all that has a ring of noble intent, the ultimate goal is to stifle critical analysis and silence honest assessment of our past.. Embedded in the Executive Order is the elimination of ‘‘Discriminatory equity ideology’” (code for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Critical Race Theory.) As a result, we are literally watching history disappear.

Last fall, my wife and I followed a portion of the Civil Rights trail, starting in Atlanta, Georgia, traveling to Montgomery, Alabama, with a day trip to Selma. The trip was filled with hard history. On the return trip to Atlanta, we spent several hours at the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. It was a sacred place of endurance and resilience, of struggle and strength. Legalized segregation was used to keep them in the shadows, but it could not keep them from shining. The Tuskegee Airfield is now a National Park Service museum campus that tells their stories.

But despite their accomplishments and the honor that has been given to these persevering pilots and mechanics, the Department of Defense began removing all references to the Tuskegee Airmen from its web site on March 7. Also removed were pages dedicated to Jackie Robinson and the Navajo Code Talkers. It was all a part of complying with the Executive Order that required the removal of anything that seemed to promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Thankfully, due to the outcry of thousands of veterans, the Pentagon has returned some–but not all–of the pages and images.

Our nation has a long history of progress toward the ideal of “justice for all” followed by periods of backlash and regression. We are in a time of regression. But those whose eyes are opened must not give up or give in. We must keep telling the truth about our past and tell the stories of those who overcame adversity so that our children and their children will learn of God’s ways and renounce the sins of their ancestors. The future depends on it.

Faith, Healing

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

After President Jimmy Carter left office, he and his wife Roselyn embarked on a mission of humanitarian aid and international peace-making. As you probably know, they also were devout Christians. Jimmy famously taught a Sunday School class at his church each week, and he wrote 30 books–many of them related to faith, morals and ethics. In his book, “Living Faith”, he wrote, “To me, faith is not just a noun, but also a verb.” And he and Roselyn “faithed” well.

The Carters are probably best known for working with Habitat for Humanity, building housing for low-income families. But their mission through the Carter Center has also included health initiatives. In the 1980’s, the Carters took on what most thought was an impossible task: the eradication of neglected tropical diseases. They first set their sights on Guinea Worm Disease—a parasitical infection that afflicted an estimated 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia each year.

I had never heard of the disease until Mike, a member of my congregation, introduced me to both the disease and the work of the Carter Center. Trust me, Guinea Worm Disease is not something anyone would want to contract. According to the Carter Center, Guinea Worm larvae live in stagnant water. When people consume that water, the larvae enter the body. Inside the host’s abdomen, Guinea worm larvae mate and female worms mature and grow. After about a year of incubation, the female Guinea worm–which grows to a length of about 40 inches–creates an exit wound somewhere–anywhere–on the host’s body and begins it’s slow and very painful process of emerging from the body. The worms can take months to fully emerge, completely incapacitating the host. The burning sensation is so intense that only by immersing themselves in water does the host experience relief. However, immersion allows the female worm to release larvae into the water. The cycle begins again.

Undaunted by the immensity of the task, the Carters teamed with infectious disease specialists who discovered that the solution to ending the cycle was simple—a $5 water filter that prevented the larvae from entering the body. Through fundraising, education, and distribution of the filters over the past 35 years, the rates of contracting the disease have fallen dramatic. In 2024, there were just 14 documented cases of Guinea Worm Disease in the world! This is what can happen when people of faith take Christ’s call to be healers seriously.

Though the Carters are no longer with us (Well done, good and faithful servants!), the Carter Center has been working to eradicate another parasitical infection found in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central and South America called “River Blindness”. They are making progress. The disease has been eradicated in Mexico, Guatamala, Columbia and Ecuador. You can learn more about the disease and their progress HERE.

The eradication of River Blindness is progressing, but there is some concern about the future. A portion of the funding for the program came from USAID, the agency that was illegally closed by the new administration—supposedly for its corruption, waste and fraud. The State Department now oversees USAID funds and approves grants that “align with the administration’s goals” on a case-by case basis. Thankfully, the Lion’s Club International Foundation has renewed its partnership with the Carter Center to facilitate continued progress in eliminating River Blindness. Maybe there’s a billionaire that could step up to help too. I’ll believe THAT when I see it.

Why Mahmoud Khalil Matters

~ Bruce Ray ~ Leave a comment

Rev. Martin Neimöller, a German Lutheran Pastor who, along with Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, formed the Confessional Church in opposition to Adolf Hitler’s attempts to place the Lutheran Church under Nazi control, is probably best known for his poem, “First They Came…” Written in 1946 after the war had concluded, Neimöller painfully confessed that he (and the German Lutheran Church) failed to speak up in opposition to Hilter and the rise of the Third Reich, and did little to stop the atrocities perpetrated against those groups that the Nazi’s targeted as their enemies,

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist

Then 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 out for me

Versions of the poem can be found etched in the walls of Holocaust memorials and museums from Washington, D.C. to Skokie, IL. The poem has taken on new relevance as various ethnic groups have been targeted by Executive Orders, ICE arrests and travel bans.

Last Sunday, Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student at Columbia University in New York and a legal resident of the United States, was arrested by ICE and was taken to a detention center in Louisiana. What as his crime? He was an out-spoken advocate for Palestinian rights during the Gaza protests at Columbia last spring. To date, he has not been charged with a crime. He will go before an immigration judge on March 27. His fate is uncertain.

Another Palestinian, Leqaa Kordia, was arrested in Newark, NJ last night, for overstaying her student visa. She had been arrested during the protests at Colombia last April.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced that the Trump administration will revoke student visas in the coming days for activists who have taken part in campus demonstrations in support of Palestinian rights.

First, they came for the Palestinians, but I did not speak out because I was not a Palestinian.