Activism

Clowns Disrupt Racist Rally Without Throwing a Single Cream Pie

By Ryan McGreal
Published August 30, 2007

Ben has written recently about activists who are trying new ways of getting the message out (see here and here, for example), so I had him in mind when I came across this hilarious Indymedia report of anti-racist clowns disrupting a white supremacist rally in Knoxville, TN.

"White Power!" the Nazis shouted, "White Flour?" the clowns yelled back running in circles throwing flour in the air and raising separate letters which spelt "White Flour".

"White Power!" the Nazis angrily shouted once more, "White flowers?" the clowns cheers and threw white flowers in the air and danced about merrily.

"White Power!" the Nazis tried once again in a doomed and somewhat funny attempt to clarify their message "Ohhhhhh!" the clowns yelled, "Tight Shower!" and held a solar shower in the air and all tried to crowd under to get clean as per the Klan's directions.

At this point several of the Nazis and Klan members began clutching their hearts as if they were about to have a heart attack. Their beady eyes bulged, and the veins in their tiny narrow foreheads beat in rage. One last time they screamed "White Power!"

The clown women thought they finally understood what the Klan was trying to say. "Ohhhhh," the women clowns said. "Now we understand ... WIFE POWER!" they lifted the letters up in the air, grabbed the nearest male clowns and lifted them in their arms and ran about merrily chanting "WIFE POWER! WIFE POWER! WIFE POWER!"

After the white supremacists gave up in disgust, the Knoxville police offered to give the clowns an escort as they marched to Market Square in the centre of town "to celebrate".

The local paper has a more sober, journalistic report on the event. Also, one of the participants has also posted an account.

Ryan McGreal, the editor of Raise the Hammer, lives in Hamilton with his family and works as a programmer, writer and consultant. Ryan volunteers with Hamilton Light Rail, a citizen group dedicated to bringing light rail transit to Hamilton. Ryan wrote a city affairs column in Hamilton Magazine, and several of his articles have been published in the Hamilton Spectator. His articles have also been published in The Walrus, HuffPost and Behind the Numbers. He maintains a personal website, has been known to share passing thoughts on Twitter and Facebook, and posts the occasional cat photo on Instagram.

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By Zubair Lockhat (anonymous) | Posted August 30, 2007 at 16:38:50

There are many who do not appreciate the work of fine clowns. Fear not clowns, for they are your friend. Remember, a man cannot be a clown unto himself. He must reach out to the masses.

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By Julian Wallce (anonymous) | Posted March 14, 2013 at 17:43:49 in reply to Comment 11028

I know Mr. Lockhat and have had the pleasure to work with him. By George, he can eat more spaghetti than anyone I've ever seen.

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By peter (anonymous) | Posted August 30, 2007 at 19:07:09

those poor, defenseless racists. who will think of the nazis??

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By Bazza Formez (anonymous) | Posted September 06, 2007 at 21:38:30

Fantastic... I read about this in my daily paper here in New Zealand.
These clowns give me hope. What an imaginative action. Humour truly is a wonderful weapon, and has the ability to expose these types bullies as the impotent dummies they are. I wish I could have been there.

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