• Clowns protest in La Paz over government decree threatening their incomes

Dozens of clowns marched through the streets of Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, on Monday to protest a government decree that limits extracurricular school activities, threatening their main source of income.

Wearing full face paint and their signature red noses, the performers gathered in front of the Ministry of Education to oppose the decree issued in February. The new rule requires schools to hold 200 official teaching days each year, effectively banning the special events where clowns are usually hired to entertain children.

Clowns in Bolivia are often employed for school celebrations, such as Children’s Day on April 12. “This decree will affect all of us economically. We work with children, and they need to laugh,” said Wilder Ramírez, a leader of the local clowns’ union, also known as Zapallito. His colleagues added with frustration, “Has Bolivia’s education minister ever had a childhood to enjoy?”

The decree, issued by the government of newly elected President Rodrigo Paz, allows celebrations only on weekends, while prohibiting them during regular school days. Government officials said they would consider the clowns’ feedback when drafting the 2027 school year decree, but this offered little relief to the protesters.

“This decree will reduce our income, and with the country’s ongoing economic crisis, the future looks increasingly bleak,” said Elías Gutiérrez, spokesperson for Bolivia’s Confederation of Artisanal Workers.

Bolivia is experiencing its worst economic crisis in decades, with natural gas revenues declining and U.S. dollars in short supply, raising import costs for the landlocked nation.

Tailors who make costumes for children’s events and photographers who usually cover school celebrations joined the protest. The group marched through La Paz, blowing whistles and setting off small fireworks, while one carried a sign reading: “You took away our smiles, and you took away our work.”