Clowns are taking a stand in Bolivia, and it’s no laughing matter.

Dressed in full face paint, red noses, and oversized shoes, a colorful assembly of clowns marched to the Ministry of Education in La Paz this Monday. Their mission: to contest an education decree they fear threatens their livelihood.

The protest centers around a recently introduced government mandate that requires schools to complete 200 instructional days each year. This policy effectively eliminates the school festivals where clowns are commonly hired to entertain and bring joy to children.

Leading the charge was Wilder Ramirez, known on stage as “Zapallito.” Speaking to reporters, he emphasized the importance of laughter for children, while his fellow clowns questioned whether Bolivia’s Education Minister had ever experienced the joy of childhood play, as reported by the Associated Press.

But it wasn’t just clowns who were out in force. Tailors, photographers, and costume makers also joined the protest, filling central La Paz with the sounds of whistles and the crackle of fireworks.

Elías Gutiérrez, a representative of the Confederation of Artisanal Workers of Bolivia, voiced the concerns of many. “This decree will diminish our income, and with the economic crisis the country is going through, our future looks increasingly gloomy,” he stated.

One clown carried a sign accusing the government of “taking away smiles, and taking work away.” 

The government says it’ll consider the clowns’ feedback for next year’s decree. 

Bolivia is in its worst economic crisis in decades, largely caused by fuel subsidies and a longterm decline in natural gas production.