Screening-Indie Lens Pop Up: Storming Caesars Palace

Ruby Duncan holds the hands of two children by a car in a driveway.

Credit: Independent Lens

Storming Caesars Palace focuses on how Vegas activist Ruby Duncan's grassroots movement of moms fought for basic income guarantee.

Join WXXI for a special FREE screening and discussion of Storming Caesars Palace, which chronicles Ruby Duncan, iconic Las Vegas activist who kick started the grassroots movement that reshaped America's perception of mothers on welfare. The film will be followed by a panel discussion. 

Indie Lens Pop Up presents Storming Caesars Palace
Monday, February 27 at 6:30-8:30 p.m. 
The Little Theatre, Theatre 5
240 East Avenue, Rochester, NY

More about the film: PBS Independent Lens Website
After losing her job as a hotel worker in Las Vegas, Ruby Duncan joined a welfare rights group of mothers who defied notions of the “welfare queen.” In a fight for guaranteed income, Ruby and other equality activists took on the Nevada mob in organizing a massive protest that shut down Caesars Palace.

Panel Discussion Moderator: Mohini Sharma is the Organizing Director for Metro Justice, she joined Metro Justice as staff in March 2017 after engaging in the Fight for $15 and a Union as a volunteer and food service worker. She is a native of Rochester. Her experiences bartending and serving tables, as well as struggling with poverty while being a full time student, drive her dedication to build intersectional working class movements. After being the Rochester organizer for the NYS One Fair Campaign for tipped workers, Mohini is now leading several campaigns within Metro Justice. She is currently the primary staff person supporting Metro Justice's efforts around publicly controlled energy utilities, universal health care, and solidarity with local labor unions and community organizations.

Panelists: 

Christina Christman is the President of the Federation of Social Workers. She was born and raised in Rochester, and was on Public Assistance for the majority of her childhood. As she was undergoing the application process for Public Assistance as an adult she became employed as an Examiner at the Monroe County Department of Human Services. She has a unique perspective as someone who was raised on the system, went through the system, works in the system, and also leads the labor union for many of the dedicated employees of DHS. 

Michael Marshall is Currently serving as Regional Coordinator of the Rochester Poor People's Campaign, enrolled in the Master of Divinity Program at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, BA Anthropology/Women Studies, Bard College

About Indie Lens Pop-Up
Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together—virtually and in-person—for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on PBS's INDEPENDENT LENS, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders, and organizations together to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics, to family and community relationships. Make friends, share stories, and join the conversation. For more information, visit pbs.org/independentlens/indie-lens-pop-up