Clowns Plan Peaceful Protest In Toms River

In response to all the creepy clown stories and pranks, a group called "Clown Lives Matter" wants to show that not all clowns are murderous child-luring psychos.

The first protest was set up in Tuscon, Arizona, but another event has been announced in Toms River.

The group plans to meet at the Sandcastle Diner on Atlantic City Boulevard at 5pm. They encourage people to come in costume, and stress that this is a peaceful event.

I do feel a bit sorry for the average run-of-the-mill birthday party clowns, the ones that show up at church carnivals or street fairs, making balloon animals for a couple bucks. They're getting lumped into this group of crazy clowns, and there has been backlash against them for a long time.

Still, setting up peaceful protests and marches, and trying to build up the hashtag Clown Lives Matter just seems like such overkill.