Professional Bolivian Clowns Take To The Streets After Getting Booted From Classrooms

In full clown dress, including the telltale red noses, clowns in Bolivia aren’t laughing.

In fact, they’re outraged at a new government directive keeping them from going into elementary schools.

Dozens of clowns are marching through the streets of Bolivia’s capital protesting against a decree limiting extracurricular activities in schools.

While government officials say the kids need more instruction time, the clowns say the ban is threatening their livelihoods.

Wearing full face paint and their signature red noses, the clowns gathered Monday in front of the ministry of education in La Paz to oppose a decree published last month.

The new mandate says schools must comply with 200 days of lessons each year – in effect banning clowns from hosting the special events where they  are frequently employed.