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Operation Nevada/Ruby Duncan | America 250 Nevada
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Ruby Duncan addresses supporters during a community march, 1971.
Hank deLespinasse Photographs, approximately 1960-2002. PH-00454. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
Operation Nevada/Ruby Duncan
3570 S Las Vegas Blvd, Paradise, NV 89109
The march took place on March 6, 1971.
On March 6, 1971, activist Ruby Duncan and local women, known as the “Westside Mothers,” led 1,500 protesters along the Las Vegas Strip in a bold stand for their families. Referred to as "Operation Nevada," the organized movement paused gambling at Caesars Palace to protest welfare cuts. It pressured the state to restore essential funds and led to the creation of "Operation Life," a community-based organization that provided healthcare and libraries to the Westside. These mothers ignited a powerful Black feminist movement that continues to serve as a model for economic justice.
People:
- Ruby Duncan (1932-2026)
- Ruby Duncan strengthened the Las Vegas community as a longtime activist and advocate for low-income families. Determined to make Southern Nevada a better place to live, she organized to advocate for working families, particularly Black mothers, who lacked access to childcare, food aid, and education. Her legacy continues through community-based education, healthcare, and family services throughout Las Vegas.
Learn More:
- https://vegas.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/1e344170-bc96-4099-bdce-4e96a2a2d978/the-power-of-collective-organizing-video-gallery-storming-caesars-palace/
- https://thelibrarydistrict.org/blogs/post/ruby-duncan-a-champion-of-the-library-district-leaves-a-legacy-of-advocacy-and-access/
- https://www.clarkcountynv.gov/government/departments/parks___recreation/cultural_division/empower/ruby-duncan
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Participants march for social justice during an Operation Life demonstration, March 6, 1971.
Hank deLespinasse Photographs, approximately 1960-2002. PH-00454. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
For questions or comments, please reach out to the Clark County Museum at ccmuseum@clarkcountynv.gov.