Dozens of clowns took to the streets of Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, on Monday to protest a new government decree limiting extracurricular school activities, saying the measure threatens their ability to earn a living.
Wearing colorful costumes, full face paint and their trademark red noses, the entertainers gathered outside the Ministry of Education to oppose the policy introduced in February. The decree requires schools to complete 200 days of lessons each year, effectively eliminating many of the celebrations and special events where clowns are typically hired to entertain children.
“This decree will economically affect all of us who work with children,” said Wilder Ramírez, a leader of the local clown union who performs under the stage name Zapallito.
Ramírez told reporters that laughter is an important part of childhood and questioned whether the country’s education authorities understood the value of such experiences.
Impact on school celebrations
Clowns in Bolivia often perform at school festivities and celebrations, providing entertainment during breaks from regular lessons. These events are a major source of income for performers, particularly during national celebrations like Children’s Day on April 12.
Under the new rules introduced by the government of President Rodrigo Paz, schools are no longer allowed to host such celebrations during regular school days. Authorities say events may still take place voluntarily on weekends, but performers argue this will significantly reduce the number of bookings available.
Education officials said they will consider the entertainers’ concerns when drafting policies for the 2027 school year, but that reassurance did little to calm protesters.
“This decree will diminish our income, and with the economic crisis the country is going through, our future looks increasingly gloomy,” said Elías Gutiérrez, spokesperson for the Confederation of Artisanal Workers of Bolivia.
Wider economic pressures
The demonstration also drew tailors, photographers and costume makers who depend on school events for work. Together with the clowns, they marched through central La Paz, blowing whistles and setting off small fireworks to draw attention to their cause.
Bolivia is currently facing its worst economic crisis in decades, driven in part by declining natural gas production, which has sharply reduced government revenues. The shortage of U.S. dollars has also made imports more expensive in the landlocked country.
As the crowd moved through the streets, one protester carried a sign accusing the government of “taking away smiles, and taking work away.”
