The Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army (also known as CIRCA) was an anti-authoritarian left-wing activist group primarily active from 2003-2005 in the United Kingdom. The group was formed by art activists John Jordan, L.M. Bogad, Jen Verson, and Matt Trevelyan in response to President George W. Bush visiting London in 2003. They staged creative protests against imperialism, corporate globalization, and war throughout the UK with particular focus on the 2005 G8 conference and the Iraq War. As a “Clown Army,” they would dress up as a parody to the real military with decorated army fatigues, marching around, and doing their own clown salute. New members went through a two day “boot camp” they called Big Shoe Camp to learn the art of clowning.
CIRCA created a new methodology for civil disobedience called rebel clowning that merges the ancient art of clowning with contemporary protest tactics. By using humor to their advantage they not only brought more joy back to social justice work, it became a useful tool in subverting the power dynamic between police and protestor.
