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Protesters outside Amalie Arena express variety of opinions





With the return of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey’s Circus, a number of protesters with a wide range of issues on their minds gathered outside of Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa last night to share their views.

“You’re all sinners and you’re going to burn in a lake of fire for eternity unless you forsake your wicked ways and repent in the name of Jesus,” screamed self-appointed street preacher Russell Brivers of Tampa, who’s out there all the time unless he’s in Ybor, which he says he prefers because there’s a wider variety of dining options and “that’s where the big money is.”

“I want my goddamn job back,” said a clown who gave his name as ‘Shuffles’. “I went to college – okay, clown college, but still – and the only place where I can use my degree – yes, my clown degree – is the circus. Ringling is the only circus there is and now they don’t even have clowns.”

“It’s like being a five-tool, major league-caliber centerfielder and then they decide to cancel baseball,” he added. “Fuck, I might as well have studied art history. Clown art history, that is.”

Beauregard, a 485-pound bengal tiger from Bangladesh was also there and said, “I’m just happy to be out here instead of in there for a change. Long overdue but thanks, Ringling. It’s much appreciated. Out here I have the freedom to eat all the clowns I want and nobody gets mad. In fact, it’s encouraged!”

Clark Brooks

About Clark Brooks

Senior Supreme Executive Premium Content Editor for Tampa News Force. Comedian, writer and ordained minister. ClarkBrooks.com. Twitter: @ClarkBrooks | Instagram:@ClarkBrooks54