There are several versions of this well-known statement, and is attributed to the German anti-Nazi activist, Pastor Martin Niemöller.
The following is said, by someone who heard him speak at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decautur GA in 1959 (or 1960), to be what he actually said:
In Germany they first came for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up.
On 2005-07-11 a reader sent this message:
Please allow me to say that the Niemöller quote you have is not correct. The Nazi party did not come for the Jews until last.
Correctly the order is Communist, Socialist,Trade Unionist,then Jews, then Pastor Niemoller.
Thank you.
Thanks, Lucy. Welcome to FR, BTW. ;)