(Zar Ki No is the President of the Rohingya Student Association.)

MATC students, faculty, staff, and community members recently participated in a solemn commemoration of Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day on August 25. The event, hosted by the Rohingya Student Association, was a day of profound significance for the Rohingya community, serving as a time to reflect on the lives lost and the incredible strength of those who survived.

Victims’ stories matter and we were honoring them, recognizing the resilience of the survivors, and raising awareness about the ongoing pursuit for the Rohingya people. The event also featured personal testimonials and a moment of silent reflection.

The Rohingya, a minority ethnic group in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, have faced systematic oppression, weakening, and persecution from the state’s military because of their religion. Following a mass attack, many survivors fled to Bangladesh, where they continue to face discrimination in overcrowded camps. The Myanmar government has failed to recognize them as citizens, denying them rights and forcing them out of their homes. Many Rohingya who remain in the country lack freedom and are subject to violence.

At MATC, the Rohingya Student Association is recognized as the first organization of its kind in the U.S. It was created to promote diversity and inclusion, encourage all members of the community to join, and provide resources, support, and a sense of belonging at the college.