There will be clown-faces in Washington, DC this weekend, but it has nothing to do with the wildly successful movie “It.” Juggalos is the name given to fans of Detroit-based Insane Clown Posse, a hip-hop duo considered by the FBI to be part of a gang. Insane Clown Posse and their fans will be protesting in the National Mall in Washington, DC Saturday to make the point that they are not criminals and are not members of any type of criminal gang.

Juggalos not to be taken lightly

Juggalos will be wearing their usual clown face paint and hip-hop will be blaring, but the protest isn’t a normal fan gathering.

This march is about clearing the name of the Juggalo family from any gang connotations. As stated in a Time interview with the duo, Juggalos wear or have tattoos of the iconic symbol of the hip-hop duo. If those fans are arrested for any crime, because of that symbol, their charges fall under gang-related crime, bringing heavier sentences.

As reported by the Business Insider, it was back in 2011 that the FBI Gang Threat Assessment report listed the Juggalos as a gang, saying small-time criminal behavior by those Insane Clown Posse fans has a larger potential for “gang-like” activity. Juggalos are still considered to be gang members in Arizona, Pennsylvania, California, and Utah. However, fans have been battling to clear the Juggalos’ names since then, claiming that people have been harassed by police, lost their jobs or have been affected in child custody cases due to that label.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Michigan has been involved in their plight, stating that while Juggalos display distinctive tattoos and clothing and some wear clown makeup, this doesn’t mean they are criminals. While some fans have been accused of criminal acts, ACLU says any large group of fans is sure to contain a number of criminals.

However, they added that the majority of Insane Clown Posse fans are not involved in criminal activity or organized crime.

Juggalos protest in Washington, DC

As reported by Inverse, on the official website for the march, organizers tell Juggalos that they need their voices to be heard loud and clear to deliver a message to those in Washington, DC to say the “Juggalo Family” is not a criminal organization joke or punchline.

Organizers of the march are expecting around 3,000 Juggalos in the Washington, DC rally, which starts at the Lincoln Memorial at 2 p.m. with guest speakers and musical acts followed by a march around the Washington Monument. Insane Clown Posse will also make an appearance with Joseph (Shaggy 2 Dope) Utsler and Joseph (Violent J) Bruce to speak at 3:50 p.m. The hip-hop duo will also close out the event with a music performance close to the Lincoln Memorial at around 9 p.m.
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