Which verb is correct?

[Habib Khandaker]

The clowns that we saw at the impromptu show in the city square yesterday are/were wearing matching hats.

 

[teechar]

If they are wearing those hats at the time of speaking, then "are" can work. Otherwise, use "were".

 

[Yankee]

Lacking any additional context, my inference, especially with "saw", would say to use "were".

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Either might be right.

If the clowns were wearing matching hats when we saw them yesterday, then were is right.

If the clowns we saw yesterday are wearing matching hats now, then are is right.

 

[emsr2d2]

Please provide the source and author of all quotes.