LOWELL — On the 50th anniversary of the fall of the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, and the start of one of the worst genocides of the 20th century, U.S. Reps. Lori Trahan (MA-3) and Robert Garcia (CA-42) reintroduced legislation to recognize April 17 as Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day.

Cambodia fell to the Khmer Rouge on April 17, 1975 following a bloody, eight-year conflict which killed hundreds of thousands of people. Within weeks, Pol Pot’s regime would begin an extermination campaign aimed primarily at the country’s educated citizens, and anybody deemed to have somehow been tainted by the ideals of the geopolitical West.

The death toll is believed to be around 2 million people, or a little less than a quarter of the country’s population at the time when the genocide ended in 1979.

“Today, we commemorate the painful anniversary of the Cambodian genocide, when over a four year period the Khmer Rouge regime murdered nearly two million innocent people. Families were separated, culture and identity were nearly erased, and the pain of that loss continues to echo through generations,” said Trahan in a statement on the anniversary Thursday. “By dedicating April 17th as Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day, we commit to preserving the memory of those we lost, to educating future generations about the atrocities that occurred, and to standing firm against the rising tide of genocide, authoritarianism, and erosion of human rights.”

Trahan and Garcia introduced identical legislation a year ago, but it remained in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“Today marks the 50th anniversary of the start of the Cambodian genocide, where more than two million lives were lost by violence and tyranny, and countless families were forever impacted,” said Garcia. “Cambodian Americans across the country still carry the weight of this history with strength and resilience. This anniversary is a time to recognize that this history will never be forgotten, and a reminder that we will always stand with the Cambodian community.”

After fleeing the killings by the Khmer Rouge, many displaced Cambodians would find themselves in refugee camps in Thailand, before they settled in the U.S., with Long Beach, California and Lowell being among the cities to have taken in the most refugees. To this day, both cities have large Cambodian communities, started by the refugees who set their roots here after fleeing their homes.

Some who arrived as children have since grown up to become elected officials in Greater Lowell. Among them is state Rep. Vanna Howard, the first Cambodian American woman elected to a state legislature in the U.S.

“Today, April 17th marks the 50th anniversary of the Cambodian genocide, when the Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia and murdered close to 2 million Cambodians over the next four years, including many of my most precious family members,” said Howard in the statement announcing the reintroduced legislation. “The remembrance is certainly an important acknowledgement of all the survivors in our community. While we recommit ourselves to never forget the lives lost, we must also remain dedicated to ensuring that such an event never happens again, and that Cambodia will return to a free and fair democratic society, sooner than later. As a genocide survivor, I’m very proud the Massachusetts Legislature, for the first time in the history of Massachusetts, passed a House Resolution [in 2023] proclaiming April 17th as Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day.”

State Rep. Tara Hong, who came to Lowell from Cambodia with his family in 2013, said the Cambodian genocide is “a part of our history we must never forget.”

“The work to uphold democracy in Cambodia is far from over—we must continue striving to keep our people safe and free from fear. On this day of remembrance, we honor the past and commit to moving forward, so we never return to such darkness,” said Hong.

Lowell City Councilor Sokhary Chau, whose father was killed by the Khmer Rouge the day Phnom Penh fell, praised Trahan for reintroducing the legislation.

“She understands the struggles of immigrants and takes meaningful action to stand with us,” said Chau. “Like many Cambodian families, mine survived the unimaginable horrors of the Khmer Rouge — the starvation, the forced labor, the fear, and the loss. As we mark the 50th anniversary of the Cambodian Genocide, this is more than a moment of remembrance. It’s a call to honor our resilience, preserve our history, and empower future generations to carry our legacy forward with pride and strength.”

Chau, who in 2022 became the first Cambodian American mayor in the U.S., is one of three current Lowell city councilors to have fled the Khmer Rouge.

Fellow City Councilor Vesna Nuon called for those like him who experienced the horrors of the regime to never forget, and to continue pushing for a free Cambodia.

“As we mark the 50th anniversary of the Cambodian genocide, it is important that those of us who survived and found safety and opportunity in the United States never forget the inhumanity of that era,” said Nuon. “And it is important that we, Cambodians and Cambodian-Americans alike, tell our stories and continue to call for an end to one-party rule and for free and just elections in Cambodia.”

City Councilor Paul Ratha Yem and his family also fled soon after the capital’s fall five decades ago.

“Fifty years ago, Cambodia fell into darkness, and over two million lives were lost to the brutality of the Khmer Rouge regime,” said Yem. “Today, we remember the victims, honor the survivors, and reaffirm our commitment to justice, truth, and the enduring strength of the Cambodian people. May their memory guide us toward peace, resilience, and a future where such horrors never happen again.”