Letters

The following is a response to the heart-wrenching letter written by Sofia Altamirano [“What You Can’t See, Letters, September 18]. This is a truly frightening time in our country, and many of us, Latino or not, are filled with anxiety every time we read or listen to the news.

Ms. Altamirano describes how ICE is traumatizing Latino families, whether their members are documented or not. She herself was born in Southampton, yet she fears for herself, her family and her neighbors. These fears are not unfounded — and we must find ways to combat ICE and the MAGA politicians who are allowing these injustices to occur.

Her letter called to mind this extraordinary poem, which is a powerful call to action:

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.

— Pastor Martin Niemöller, January 14, 1892–March 6, 1984.

When there is no one left to speak for each of us, it will be too late to stop this onslaught on our democracy, freedoms and rights. It is time for all of us to mobilize and think about what we, as individuals and groups, can do: protest, write letters, make phone calls, donate money to organizations such as the ACLU, the Southern Policy Law Center, MoveOn, Indivisible, fight for mail-in voting, vote, and join Progressive groups such as PEER.

These are some very doable actions we can all take to stop these atrocities that ultimately will affect all of us.

Tina Jacobowitz, Ph.D.

Progressive East End Reformers (PEER)

The poem “First They Came” has been published many times, with slight variations in wording — Ed.