War Through Civilian Eyes

While St. Petersburg’s streets and neighborhoods have so far escaped the profound physical ravages of war, that doesn’t mean we haven’t been impacted by its effects.

Besides  being home to thousands of military veterans recovering from both the physical and invisible injuries of political conflict, Pinellas County is also home to hundreds of survivors and refugees forced to flee from war torn communities across the globe.

Thomas W. Smith, author of “Human Rights and War through Civilian Eyes” and associate professor of Government and International Affairs at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg brings this compelling conversation home:  “No matter where you live, civilians continue to bear the brunt of war.”

We’ll talk with a Japanese woman who survived bombings in World War II, a Bosnian Muslim displaced during ethnic cleansing in Yugoslavia, and a 15 year old Syrian refugee boy, all of whom have now settled here in Tampa Bay.

Join us as we gain a localized understanding of the refugee experience and encourage true connections across cultures…by getting to know our new neighbors.

Free & Open to the Public.  Please RSVP here at EventBrite

5:30 – 6:15 pm    Reception
6:15 – 7:00 pm    Presentation and Panel Discussion
7:00 – 7:30 pm    Audience Q & A
7:30 – 8:30 pm    Enjoy a free hour of access to the Holocaust Museum’s special exhibit;
“Bill Graham and the Rock and Roll Revolution,” courtesy of OPEN