The government of Burma wants the world to ignore the existence of the Rohingya people, but you — and now the President — have refused to ignore their plight.
The Associated Press credited the #JustSayTheirName campaign for drawing attention to the Rohingya in a news story that has literally travelled round the world. Forty three of our Congressional allies signed onto a letter demanding an end to human rights abuses in Burma.
And when we stepped into the White House for a meeting with senior officials last week the first thing they were quick to acknowledge was our campaign.
President Obama’s use of the word Rohingya is a big deal. Publicly saying the name of one of the most persecuted groups on earth — despite Burmese government pressure not to — is an important statement and a step in the right direction.
Our work to stop the march to genocide in Burma — and save the more than 1.3 million Rohingya from the horror that they face every day — is just beginning. If President Obama’s public use of the word Rohingya is to be more than a noble gesture, he will need to back it with action.
And with you with us, we will be here to make sure he does.
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