The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/739194
Creepy Clowns Plague America with Concerns: Hoax or Real? I t all started in Greenville, South Carolina in late August of 2016; the reports given to the police were saying that there were "clowns trying to lure children into the woods." Since those reports, the "clown epidemic" has spread throughout America, affecting multiple states, and has even extended to Canada. There have been many arrests made of suspicious peo- ple dressed as clowns, many carrying weap- ons, chasing people or threatening schools. T he states affected have been South Caro- lina, Alabama, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Califor- nia, Texas, Wisconsin, Illinois, Arkansas, Or- egon, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, Washington, Delaware, Connecticut, Indiana, and Ohio. Many reports have been faked, including videos and pictures on so- cial media and threats towards schools; how- ever, each school threatened has gone on lock down as they must take the threats seriously. S taged hoaxes also include the local scares such as clowns sighted in Chico and Red- ding, and Shasta High School being threatened. So far, the only confirmed sightings in Cali- fornia have been Fontana, Fresno, Modesto, and the San Francisco Bay Area. There was a "clown hunt" at Penn State University on Mon- day, October third. At least five hundred students marched the streets chanting; there were no vio- lence or injuries sustained. There has also been a movement on Facebook called "Clown Lives Matter," which worries for the lives of profes- sional clowns that are not involved in the sight- ings or attacks. A march for the movement is planned to happen October fifteenth in Arizona. W hile many reports are faked, they should be taken seriously. If there's news of a supposed clown sighting, the best course of action is to stay away from that area in case the clown has weapons. Stay safe, America. States Affected by Clown Epidemic confirmed clown sightings and/or hoax sightings no confirmed clown sightings Are you afraid of clowns? Survey taken from Mr. Dais and Mr. Norton's third period class- es, and Mrs. Coker and Mrs. Dausse's fourth period classes Not Afraid Afraid