This news has hit me harder here in Munich bc we toured Dachau yesterday. “Never Again” is a constant repeated theme there, but “never” is already starting to happen again. So now, a thread of important reminders about how easy a democracy can become a dictatorship. 1/ https://twitter.com/cookie_everman/status/1015098894450135040

Hitler was elected democratically, w/ full support of anti-Semitic Christian churches in Germany. It was just after the stock market crash & Germany was still recovering from WWI. People were eager for a radical change, which Hitler offered. 2/

Hitler promised economic recovery, and starving German youth were offered a steady job in the Third Reich. A shiny uniform, shelter, income, 3 squares – who wouldn’t want to join? 3/

With stirring speeches in beer halls, Hitler appealed to the “common” volks of Germany. He convinced them that he was doing everything he could to restore and elevate them, to make Germany great again after the world had disrespected it after the war. People ate it up. 4/

Dachau was the first camp established as the model “rehabilitation” camp. The first prisoners were political dissidents and anyone deemed to oppose Hitler and his mission – journalists, artists, poets. They were put on the same level as thieves and criminals. 5/

Our tour guide said that even as the camps grew in number (over 1500 by the end of WWII) all over Germany and Poland, many people still supported Hitler wholeheartedly and felt he was doing what was best for Germany. Hitler was going to make Germany great again. 6/

Still, there was dissent, and some chose to flee Germany. “The pessimists went to Brooklyn. The optimists went to Dachau.” 7/

German propaganda depicted the prisoners in Dachau as “animals”, not human. If they’re animals, it was OK to separate the children from their parents, to torture them, to work them like animals in the fields, strip them of their clothes and hair, their names and dignity. 8/

People who lived in the town of Dachau sometimes saw prisoners in their town working; sometimes they offered small kindnesses, but most turned a blind eye to what was happening in the camp. They all believed the propaganda, that maybe these prisoners deserved to be in Dachau. 9/

Many also felt, “I am only one person. What can I do?” I know many of us Americans feel this way now, with Trump in office, as he slowly escalates the inhumanities and injustices against anyone who he deems is not making America great again. 10/

The denaturalization process, as I understand it, would look each naturalized citizen's life to see how important their contribution is to making America great again. If their contribution is lacking, then their citizenship is revoked. Have I contributed enough, America? 11/

Friends, I confess that I am a bit afraid for my life. I feel safer being in Europe right now and I’m a little hesitant to return to an America that I know hates me and my brown and black sisters and brothers. 12/

Many of you are going to say, “No, Cookie! We love you! We would fight for you!” But would you, really? I’m sure many Germans during the time of Dachau also felt like they loved their friends who were being arrested bc they’re political resisters, Romani, homosexual, Jewish… 13/

It might feel good to retweet and share this thread: “I’ve done my part to raise awareness.” But if I had to hide from the gov’t tomorrow bc they will reverse my naturalized American citizenship, would you shelter me in your home? 14/

Would you speak up for me and tell the gov’t not to send me away? Would you speak up for others like me? Would you register to vote then actually vote in November to make sure you wouldn’t have to risk your life to protect mine? 15/

Please, sisters, brothers, friends. I beg you to remember that we are on a dangerous path. Let’s change directions and make it right while we still can. 16/16