usually when I’m on stage it’s just to share music with people or I might be
share music with people or I might be
share music with people or I might be playing a part in a show but today I’m
playing a part in a show but today I’m
playing a part in a show but today I’m here to talk to you about what’s going
here to talk to you about what’s going
here to talk to you about what’s going on in our country to offer my
on in our country to offer my
on in our country to offer my perspective as the daughter of a
perspective as the daughter of a
perspective as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and to hopefully
Holocaust survivor and to hopefully
Holocaust survivor and to hopefully offer some solutions I don’t know if
offer some solutions I don’t know if
offer some solutions I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I have that a certain
you’ve noticed but I have that a certain
you’ve noticed but I have that a certain segment of our population has become
segment of our population has become
segment of our population has become very empowered in its bigotry lately
very empowered in its bigotry lately
very empowered in its bigotry lately hate crimes are on the rise bullying has
hate crimes are on the rise bullying has
hate crimes are on the rise bullying has become more and more intense I thought
become more and more intense I thought
become more and more intense I thought all this new hate would just dissipate
all this new hate would just dissipate
all this new hate would just dissipate and go away after the November 9th
and go away after the November 9th
and go away after the November 9th elections but that was not to be in fact
elections but that was not to be in fact
elections but that was not to be in fact quite the opposite happened so I knew we
quite the opposite happened so I knew we
quite the opposite happened so I knew we were all in for a very rocky ride what
were all in for a very rocky ride what
were all in for a very rocky ride what was my response to write a song it’s
was my response to write a song it’s
was my response to write a song it’s what I do I wrote I’ll have your back to
what I do I wrote I’ll have your back to
what I do I wrote I’ll have your back to inspire you to stand up for people who
inspire you to stand up for people who
inspire you to stand up for people who are being targeted and bullied and to
are being targeted and bullied and to
are being targeted and bullied and to let those people know that there are
let those people know that there are
let those people know that there are people out there that care about them I
people out there that care about them I
people out there that care about them I call it a safety pin song after the
call it a safety pin song after the
call it a safety pin song after the safety pin movement that started in the
safety pin movement that started in the
safety pin movement that started in the UK after their brexit boat which was a
UK after their brexit boat which was a
UK after their brexit boat which was a parallel event to our November elections
parallel event to our November elections
parallel event to our November elections after that happened people became very
after that happened people became very
after that happened people became very concerned because in public places
concerned because in public places
concerned because in public places people started being harassed and
people started being harassed and
people started being harassed and bullied so people started wearing safety
bullied so people started wearing safety
bullied so people started wearing safety pins on their clothes to let people know
pins on their clothes to let people know
pins on their clothes to let people know they were safe people to come to for
they were safe people to come to for
they were safe people to come to for help and also to send a signal to the
help and also to send a signal to the
help and also to send a signal to the would-be perpetrators that if they tried
would-be perpetrators that if they tried
would-be perpetrators that if they tried something they might come up against
something they might come up against
something they might come up against more than just the people they were
more than just the people they were
more than just the people they were targeting so without further ado I would
targeting so without further ado I would
targeting so without further ado I would like to sing I’ll have your back for you
like to sing I’ll have your back for you
like to sing I’ll have your back for you and I will sing I will have your back
[Music]
[Music] when people go low sometimes it’s hard
when people go low sometimes it’s hard
when people go low sometimes it’s hard to see the sky when the rains coming
to see the sky when the rains coming
to see the sky when the rains coming down
down
down you need some strength just to get by
if you feel afraid if you feel if you
if you feel afraid if you feel if you feel that suddenly this place is not
feel that suddenly this place is not
feel that suddenly this place is not your home I’ll have your back on your
your home I’ll have your back on your
your home I’ll have your back on your blue when the police come
blue when the police come
blue when the police come they’ll have to get through me to get to
they’ll have to get through me to get to
they’ll have to get through me to get to you welcome to wall down when the bricks
you welcome to wall down when the bricks
you welcome to wall down when the bricks of me with hate oh I’ll have you
come take my hand together we’ll stand
come take my hand together we’ll stand will stand so if we’re holding hands
will stand so if we’re holding hands
will stand so if we’re holding hands there is no chance that we will fall
there is no chance that we will fall
there is no chance that we will fall if you feeling lost listen to my song
you are my family together wit still
you are my family together wit still strong I’ll have your back on your
strong I’ll have your back on your
strong I’ll have your back on your friends
well he’s come they’ll have to get
well he’s come they’ll have to get through me to get to you love can’t it
through me to get to you love can’t it
through me to get to you love can’t it all down with a brixham made with hate
all down with a brixham made with hate
all down with a brixham made with hate I’ll have you back Oh
a will turn away I’ll be standing by
a will turn away I’ll be standing by your side cuz I’m willing to protect you
your side cuz I’m willing to protect you
your side cuz I’m willing to protect you with my
with my
with my [Music]
come you’ll have to get through me to
come you’ll have to get through me to get to you down
do you remember your first day of school
do you remember your first day of school or your child’s first day of school
or your child’s first day of school
or your child’s first day of school those mixtures of feelings that
those mixtures of feelings that
those mixtures of feelings that conflicting emotions of excitement and a
conflicting emotions of excitement and a
conflicting emotions of excitement and a little bit of fear of whether you can
little bit of fear of whether you can
little bit of fear of whether you can handle it all sense of pride of being
handle it all sense of pride of being
handle it all sense of pride of being grown up well my dad was feeling all
grown up well my dad was feeling all
grown up well my dad was feeling all those things on a morning in 1931 when
those things on a morning in 1931 when
those things on a morning in 1931 when he got all dressed up in his school
he got all dressed up in his school
he got all dressed up in his school clothes and my grandmother took him by
clothes and my grandmother took him by
clothes and my grandmother took him by the hand and led him down the tree-lined
the hand and led him down the tree-lined
the hand and led him down the tree-lined streets of Berlin Germany to the local
streets of Berlin Germany to the local
streets of Berlin Germany to the local school but what they found there was not
school but what they found there was not
school but what they found there was not what they expected they told my dad and
what they expected they told my dad and
what they expected they told my dad and my grandma that they were no longer
my grandma that they were no longer
my grandma that they were no longer accepting Jews at the school so my
accepting Jews at the school so my
accepting Jews at the school so my grandma took my dad by the hand and led
grandma took my dad by the hand and led
grandma took my dad by the hand and led him home that experience had a profound
him home that experience had a profound
him home that experience had a profound effect on my dad my dad was a Jewish
effect on my dad my dad was a Jewish
effect on my dad my dad was a Jewish person who survived being in Europe
person who survived being in Europe
person who survived being in Europe during a World War Two and many very
during a World War Two and many very
during a World War Two and many very severe things happen to him including
severe things happen to him including
severe things happen to him including being in a train station in in Brussels
being in a train station in in Brussels
being in a train station in in Brussels when it was bombed and the ceiling fell
when it was bombed and the ceiling fell
when it was bombed and the ceiling fell down on his head but nothing affected
down on his head but nothing affected
down on his head but nothing affected him more than this particular experience
him more than this particular experience
him more than this particular experience it was one that he recounted to me many
it was one that he recounted to me many
it was one that he recounted to me many times he said Laurie can you imagine it
times he said Laurie can you imagine it
times he said Laurie can you imagine it I was this little boy and I went to the
I was this little boy and I went to the
I was this little boy and I went to the school and and they rejected me who are
school and and they rejected me who are
school and and they rejected me who are these people that thought that a little
these people that thought that a little
these people that thought that a little Jewish boy could hurt non-jewish
Jewish boy could hurt non-jewish
Jewish boy could hurt non-jewish children in their school how different
children in their school how different
children in their school how different is that way of thinking from someone who
is that way of thinking from someone who
is that way of thinking from someone who tells their wife that they don’t want
tells their wife that they don’t want
tells their wife that they don’t want their kids to go to a particular private
their kids to go to a particular private
their kids to go to a particular private school because there are too many Jews
school because there are too many Jews
school because there are too many Jews there and too many Hanukkah books in the
there and too many Hanukkah books in the
there and too many Hanukkah books in the library except that
library except that
library except that that didn’t happen in 1930s Germany I’m
that didn’t happen in 1930s Germany I’m
that didn’t happen in 1930s Germany I’m recounting something to you that
recounting something to you that
recounting something to you that happened in contemporary America that’s
happened in contemporary America that’s
happened in contemporary America that’s directly from Steve bannon’s divorce
directly from Steve bannon’s divorce
directly from Steve bannon’s divorce papers so our president’s chief
papers so our president’s chief
papers so our president’s chief strategist thinks that way when a
strategist thinks that way when a
strategist thinks that way when a country falls on hard times when it
country falls on hard times when it
country falls on hard times when it seems like there isn’t enough to go
seems like there isn’t enough to go
seems like there isn’t enough to go around a more established in group may
around a more established in group may
around a more established in group may decide to target less established out
decide to target less established out
decide to target less established out groups and scapegoat them and blame them
groups and scapegoat them and blame them
groups and scapegoat them and blame them for the problems instead of actually
for the problems instead of actually
for the problems instead of actually finding out what the real solutions to
finding out what the real solutions to
finding out what the real solutions to these situations are at that time a
these situations are at that time a
these situations are at that time a leader can come along and tap into those
leader can come along and tap into those
leader can come along and tap into those feelings of hatred and aggression and
feelings of hatred and aggression and
feelings of hatred and aggression and capitalize on them and use them to take
capitalize on them and use them to take
capitalize on them and use them to take power it happened in Berlin Germany and
power it happened in Berlin Germany and
power it happened in Berlin Germany and it is happening today in our country at
it is happening today in our country at
it is happening today in our country at these times you can divide a society
these times you can divide a society
these times you can divide a society into three groups of people the
into three groups of people the
into three groups of people the perpetrators the enablers and the
perpetrators the enablers and the
perpetrators the enablers and the resistors the perpetrators are of course
resistors the perpetrators are of course
resistors the perpetrators are of course the government officials that design and
the government officials that design and
the government officials that design and implement programs against the targeted
implement programs against the targeted
implement programs against the targeted people that could be members of hate
people that could be members of hate
people that could be members of hate groups and even classroom bullies like
groups and even classroom bullies like
groups and even classroom bullies like the ones that go to school not five
the ones that go to school not five
the ones that go to school not five miles from here where a good friend of
miles from here where a good friend of
miles from here where a good friend of mine teaches and the little kids there
mine teaches and the little kids there
mine teaches and the little kids there yell build the wall build the wall in
yell build the wall build the wall in
yell build the wall build the wall in front of their mexican-american
front of their mexican-american
front of their mexican-american classmates the second group of people
classmates the second group of people
classmates the second group of people the enablers are not just the ones that
the enablers are not just the ones that
the enablers are not just the ones that sympathize with the perpetrators they’re
sympathize with the perpetrators they’re
sympathize with the perpetrators they’re also the people who remain silent and
also the people who remain silent and
also the people who remain silent and passive for their own comfort and for
passive for their own comfort and for
passive for their own comfort and for the comfort of those around them the
the comfort of those around them the
the comfort of those around them the last group are the most important group
last group are the most important group
last group are the most important group they’re the resistors are the people who
they’re the resistors are the people who
they’re the resistors are the people who say no that’s not how I’m going to add
say no that’s not how I’m going to add
say no that’s not how I’m going to add that’s not what my country is about I’m
that’s not what my country is about I’m
that’s not what my country is about I’m going to resist this I’m going to stand
going to resist this I’m going to stand
going to resist this I’m going to stand up for what’s right the next important
up for what’s right the next important
up for what’s right the next important event in my dad’s life was his Bar
event in my dad’s life was his Bar
event in my dad’s life was his Bar Mitzvah and that happened in November of
Mitzvah and that happened in November of
Mitzvah and that happened in November of 1938 at the Ohanyan bergstraße a temple
1938 at the Ohanyan bergstraße a temple
1938 at the Ohanyan bergstraße a temple which was the main one of the Jewish
which was the main one of the Jewish
which was the main one of the Jewish community in Germany two days later
community in Germany two days later
community in Germany two days later Cristal knocked happened he was the last
Cristal knocked happened he was the last
Cristal knocked happened he was the last Jewish boy to be bar Mitzvahed in that
Jewish boy to be bar Mitzvahed in that
Jewish boy to be bar Mitzvahed in that in that temple my my family didn’t lose
in that temple my my family didn’t lose
in that temple my my family didn’t lose their business on crystal knocked
their business on crystal knocked
their business on crystal knocked because it was located in on the top
because it was located in on the top
because it was located in on the top floor of the same apartment building
floor of the same apartment building
floor of the same apartment building where they lived it was protected by
where they lived it was protected by
where they lived it was protected by being located there it was a small rain
being located there it was a small rain
being located there it was a small rain coat factory where my grandpa and my
coat factory where my grandpa and my
coat factory where my grandpa and my grandma would sew garments all day
grandma would sew garments all day
grandma would sew garments all day sitting next to their workers one day my
sitting next to their workers one day my
sitting next to their workers one day my grandpa went upstairs to go to work and
grandpa went upstairs to go to work and
grandpa went upstairs to go to work and one of the employees told him that the
one of the employees told him that the
one of the employees told him that the business don’t belong to him what had
business don’t belong to him what had
business don’t belong to him what had happened was something designed by
happened was something designed by
happened was something designed by Hitler called area nization that was the
Hitler called area nization that was the
Hitler called area nization that was the transference of jewish-owned businesses
transference of jewish-owned businesses
transference of jewish-owned businesses into non-jewish hands so when my
into non-jewish hands so when my
into non-jewish hands so when my grandfather heard this he went back down
grandfather heard this he went back down
grandfather heard this he went back down the stairs and he announced the family
the stairs and he announced the family
the stairs and he announced the family that they would begin packing to leave
that they would begin packing to leave
that they would begin packing to leave and they were all packed when a second
and they were all packed when a second
and they were all packed when a second notice came to them that was one telling
notice came to them that was one telling
notice came to them that was one telling them to report to a work camp for their
them to report to a work camp for their
them to report to a work camp for their own protection of course this was a
own protection of course this was a
own protection of course this was a concentration camp so in an act of civil
concentration camp so in an act of civil
concentration camp so in an act of civil disobedience my family began the process
disobedience my family began the process
disobedience my family began the process of escape which included hiding and
of escape which included hiding and
of escape which included hiding and going on the run for a number of years
going on the run for a number of years
going on the run for a number of years they say that about 25,000 people in the
they say that about 25,000 people in the
they say that about 25,000 people in the city of Berlin helped Jewish people
city of Berlin helped Jewish people
city of Berlin helped Jewish people survive in those
survive in those
survive in those x it’s extraordinary that these people
x it’s extraordinary that these people
x it’s extraordinary that these people risk their lives and their families
risk their lives and their families
risk their lives and their families lives to do what was right by hiding and
lives to do what was right by hiding and
lives to do what was right by hiding and helping Jewish people but 25,000 people
helping Jewish people but 25,000 people
helping Jewish people but 25,000 people are less than were less than 1 percent
are less than were less than 1 percent
are less than were less than 1 percent of the total population of Berlin at the
of the total population of Berlin at the
of the total population of Berlin at the time which was 4 million people what
time which was 4 million people what
time which was 4 million people what would have happened if five percent or
would have happened if five percent or
would have happened if five percent or twenty percent or the majority of people
twenty percent or the majority of people
twenty percent or the majority of people had decided that they were going to
had decided that they were going to
had decided that they were going to stand up for what was right what would
stand up for what was right what would
stand up for what was right what would have happened if everybody got letters
have happened if everybody got letters
have happened if everybody got letters in the mail telling them to report to
in the mail telling them to report to
in the mail telling them to report to concentration camps decided to run away
concentration camps decided to run away
concentration camps decided to run away and instead I think the result would
and instead I think the result would
and instead I think the result would have been quite different eventually my
have been quite different eventually my
have been quite different eventually my dad made it to liege belgium where he
dad made it to liege belgium where he
dad made it to liege belgium where he was hidden in a convent by catholic nuns
was hidden in a convent by catholic nuns
was hidden in a convent by catholic nuns yes just like in the musical sound of
yes just like in the musical sound of
yes just like in the musical sound of music these nuns gave him refuge in
music these nuns gave him refuge in
music these nuns gave him refuge in shelter when they saw someone on their
shelter when they saw someone on their
shelter when they saw someone on their doorstep needing needing help and I’m i
doorstep needing needing help and I’m i
doorstep needing needing help and I’m i can tell you i would not be alive today
can tell you i would not be alive today
can tell you i would not be alive today if it had been for the bravery of nuns
if it had been for the bravery of nuns
if it had been for the bravery of nuns that helped my dad and I wouldn’t be
that helped my dad and I wouldn’t be
that helped my dad and I wouldn’t be standing on this stage here at Bergen
standing on this stage here at Bergen
standing on this stage here at Bergen Community College if our country had not
Community College if our country had not
Community College if our country had not accepted my dad and his family as
accepted my dad and his family as
accepted my dad and his family as refugees after the war so what is the
refugees after the war so what is the
refugees after the war so what is the answer to this you have to resist you
answer to this you have to resist you
answer to this you have to resist you know in his famous quote Edmund Burke
know in his famous quote Edmund Burke
know in his famous quote Edmund Burke said the only thing necessary for the
said the only thing necessary for the
said the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
triumph of evil is for good people to do
triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing so it’s not good enough to just
nothing so it’s not good enough to just
nothing so it’s not good enough to just not be a racist you have to be an
not be a racist you have to be an
not be a racist you have to be an anti-racist it’s not good enough to just
anti-racist it’s not good enough to just
anti-racist it’s not good enough to just say I don’t hate immigrants you have to
say I don’t hate immigrants you have to
say I don’t hate immigrants you have to be active
be active
be active an anti xenophobe you have to be
an anti xenophobe you have to be
an anti xenophobe you have to be attacked anti homophobe you have to be
attacked anti homophobe you have to be
attacked anti homophobe you have to be an anti Islamophobe you have to be an
an anti Islamophobe you have to be an
an anti Islamophobe you have to be an anti anti-semite if that’s the thing
anti anti-semite if that’s the thing
anti anti-semite if that’s the thing because the perpetrators are counting on
because the perpetrators are counting on
because the perpetrators are counting on you to not resist to not rock the boat
you to not resist to not rock the boat
you to not resist to not rock the boat to make their job easy to be quiet but
to make their job easy to be quiet but
to make their job easy to be quiet but you have to stand up you know Hitler
you have to stand up you know Hitler
you have to stand up you know Hitler used to say used to use the word nugen
used to say used to use the word nugen
used to say used to use the word nugen press lying press it was something he
press lying press it was something he
press lying press it was something he invented every time people would find
invented every time people would find
invented every time people would find out about something horrible that
out about something horrible that
out about something horrible that happened he would just say oh it didn’t
happened he would just say oh it didn’t
happened he would just say oh it didn’t happen the press is lying how different
happen the press is lying how different
happen the press is lying how different is that from saying it’s fake news the
is that from saying it’s fake news the
is that from saying it’s fake news the other day I spoke to someone and said
other day I spoke to someone and said
other day I spoke to someone and said you know in an airport near us they
you know in an airport near us they
you know in an airport near us they separated a nursing mother from her
separated a nursing mother from her
separated a nursing mother from her child for a number of hours and she said
child for a number of hours and she said
child for a number of hours and she said that was fake news because you know what
that was fake news because you know what
that was fake news because you know what if you don’t know what’s going on around
if you don’t know what’s going on around
if you don’t know what’s going on around you if you don’t admit it you’re not
you if you don’t admit it you’re not
you if you don’t admit it you’re not responsible for it are you except you
responsible for it are you except you
responsible for it are you except you are you are so it’s not just for the
are you are so it’s not just for the
are you are so it’s not just for the vulnerable people and for the targeted
vulnerable people and for the targeted
vulnerable people and for the targeted people we have to stand up for what’s
people we have to stand up for what’s
people we have to stand up for what’s right for all of us because history
right for all of us because history
right for all of us because history shows and I urge you to go look at the
shows and I urge you to go look at the
shows and I urge you to go look at the history of what happens things don’t
history of what happens things don’t
history of what happens things don’t work out very well for countries that
work out very well for countries that
work out very well for countries that target their most vulnerable and weak
target their most vulnerable and weak
target their most vulnerable and weak people it doesn’t work out well for
people it doesn’t work out well for
people it doesn’t work out well for anybody so it’s the proportion between
anybody so it’s the proportion between
anybody so it’s the proportion between the enablers and the resistors that’s
the enablers and the resistors that’s
the enablers and the resistors that’s the key factor if everybody resists
the key factor if everybody resists
the key factor if everybody resists rather than if everybody enables as what
rather than if everybody enables as what
rather than if everybody enables as what happened in Nazi Germany if all of us
happened in Nazi Germany if all of us
happened in Nazi Germany if all of us resist what we know is wrong we are
resist what we know is wrong we are
resist what we know is wrong we are going to come through this okay so it’s
going to come through this okay so it’s
going to come through this okay so it’s up to all
up to all
up to all you I wish you courage in your journey
”
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