Independent Lens Season 24 Episode 11 Storming Caesars Palace

In Independent Lens season 24 episode 11, titled "Storming Caesars Palace," viewers are taken back to 1970s America at the height of the civil rights movement. The episode explores the story of the National Welfare Rights Organization (NWRO) and their efforts to fight for the rights of welfare recipients.

Led by the charismatic and bold attorney, William J. "Wild Bill" Taylor, the NWRO was a force to be reckoned with. They fought tirelessly to ensure that welfare recipients were not only given a fair and just amount of aid, but that their voices and experiences were heard by those in power.

The episode takes a deep dive into the NWRO's most notorious action: a demonstration at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. In August of 1971, over 200 welfare rights activists from across the country descended upon the luxurious casino and hotel to protest the annual meeting of the National Governors Conference. The NWRO wanted to bring attention to the fact that many recipients of welfare were being denied basic services and rights, and they saw the conference as a perfect opportunity to make their voices heard.

What ensued was a chaotic and violent showdown between the activists and the police. The episode uses archival footage and interviews with surviving members of the NWRO to paint a vivid picture of the protest and its aftermath.

But "Storming Caesars Palace" is not just a story about one dramatic event. It is also a portrait of a time when the fight for civil rights extended beyond race, and included issues such as poverty and class. The NWRO was a trailblazing organization that fought for the rights of those living in poverty, and the episode serves as a reminder of how important their work was - and still is - today.

As with many episodes of Independent Lens, "Storming Caesars Palace" is a powerful and thought-provoking look at a little-known piece of American history. It doesn't shy away from the difficult and uncomfortable truths of the past, but it is ultimately a tale of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.