By Caitlin Schmidt
The Arizona Daily Star
TUSCON, Ariz. — If you encounter a group of clowns on Fourth Avenue on Oct. 15 don’t be alarmed: It’s part of a rally that organizers say is designed to show that clowns aren’t “psycho killers.”
‘Clown Lives Matter,’ a peaceful walk, is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Maloney’s parking lot, 213 N. 4th Avenue, according to a flyer on organizer Nikki Sinn’s Facebook page.
“We want the public to feel safe, and not be afraid, so come out, bring the family, meet a clown and get a hug,” the event’s flyer says.
Sinn wasn’t immediately available for comment on Thursday.
The rally was planned in response to numerous scary clown sightings reported across the United States, including at the University of Arizona.
On Monday night, dozens of UA students and their parents called campus police to report an alert sent out regarding a clown or clowns on campus, said Chief Brian Seastone.
“We want to set the UA campus and community at ease regarding the clown hoax that occurred last night,” Seastone wrote in an email to students, adding that no one has actually seen any clowns.
“UA received 20-30 calls from concerned students and parents regarding this hoax, tying up police officers and dispatch, and compromising campus safety by distracting police respondents and dispatchers,” he wrote.
Coincidentally, a trailer for a 2016 horror film called ‘Clown’ has began circulating around the internet. The movie, directed by Eli Roth, is about a man who turns into a demonic clown after dressing up for his son’s birthday party.