Tonight, Tucson will get a chance to listen to the real hero behind the Oscar-nominated film "Hotel Rwanda."
Speaker Paul Rusesabagina saved the lives of more than 1,000 people from genocide in Rwanda when he allowed them to take shelter in the hotel he temporarily managed.
Rusesabagina will speak about his experience in Rwanda during the genocide, and will also discuss the current genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
He has been touring for three months and was asked to come to Tucson by the YWCA, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the UA. Rusesabagina will speak about world justice and encourage individual responsibility, according to a press release.
Rusesabagina's motivation for speaking about the genocides is to encourage the community to promote justice, said the Director the YWCA Racial Justice Program, J. Sarah Gonzales.
"He will inspire and empower the community to take action," Gonzales said.
Rusesabagina will speak at Centennial Hall tonight at 7. Tickets will be $40, $20, and $10 for student tickets. Tickets will be available through Centennial Hall's Box Office or online at www.uapresents.org. Gonzales said she expects some tickets to be available at the door, but encourages people to buy their tickets in advance.
A portion of all proceeds from the lecture will benefit the Save Darfur Coalition.