Gen Z protesters are flying this pirate flag. Here’s what it means.

Straight Arrow News

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00:00It's a story about freedom and the journey to obtain it.

00:06Gen Z is rolling up to protests in increasing numbers.

00:10But why exactly are young people across the globe carrying pirate flags at demonstrations?

00:17And what do they mean?

00:18The symbol they're rallying under is a fictional pirate flag from a popular Japanese manga and anime series called One Piece.

00:31It's an expansive franchise with more than 100 volumes of books and well over a thousand episodes.

00:38It was even brought to life with a live-action adaptation in 2023.

00:42Together we make a pretty good team.

00:44The series follows Monkey D. Luffy and his friends, the Straw Hat Pirates, searching for freedom, friendship, and fortune on the high seas.

00:53The crew hunts for the mythical One Piece, a treasure that would make Luffy king of the pirates.

01:05During their quest, the band of pirates fight back against the authoritarian world government,

01:10all while flying their own version of the famous Jolly Roger pirate flag.

01:14The banner made its way out of the manga and into the real world last summer in Indonesia,

01:19when Gen Z protesters adopted the symbol.

01:22According to Human Rights Watch, civil and political rights declined in Indonesia in the past decade under the Jokowi administration,

01:29which ended a year ago.

01:31In the lead-up to Indonesia's 80th Independence Day this summer,

01:35the government told its citizens to fly the country flag with patriotic pride.

01:40In defiance, many hoisted the anime pirate colors instead.

01:44Some Indonesian politicians strongly opposed the pirate symbol.

01:47One called it a coordinated attempt to divide the nation, but the flag was still full.

02:07opposed the pirate symbol.

02:09One called it a coordinated attempt to divide the nation.

02:13But the flag was still flown all over the country,

02:16leading to targeted raids and confiscations.

02:19From there, the movement spread to Peru, Nepal, Paraguay,

02:23the Philippines, Madagascar, and the US.

02:37The people that are governed by tyran kings, corrupt kings,

02:41that the only thing they seek is to take advantage of their own city,

02:45a city full of slaves.

02:46And that's what is represented in each country,

02:50and, let's say, in our Peru.

02:51In 2024, 20% of American youth had engaged in issue advocacy

02:56and 18% had gone to demonstrations.

03:00Many now do so under a cartoon Jolly Roger.

03:04SIN spoke with a volunteer medic wearing the symbolic straw hat

03:08in Omaha, Nebraska, during the latest No Kings protests this October.

03:12You'll see their flag.

03:13You'll see just references to them.

03:17I mean, heck, I even have the flag right there.

03:20To me, it's just a symbol of freedom.

03:23If something were to happen and, like, nonlethal rounds would be fired

03:29just so I can keep doing my job helping people out,

03:33I have, we have, like, usually something behind it,

03:37just kind of like a crumple zone in cars.

03:41One of them is actually a volume of One Piece.

03:46The other is Night by Eli Wiesel.

03:49Young people marching under an anime pirate flag

03:52isn't the first time fictional pop culture elements

03:55had become a rallying symbol in the real world.

03:59In 2014, youth protesting against a coup in Thailand held up three fingers

04:04in a salute from the Hunger Games franchise.

04:07The government banned the use of the gesture and detained those who used it.

04:11Red robes and white bonnets from The Handmaid's Tale

04:14also make regular appearances at demonstrations.

04:17It represents a defense of bodily autonomy.

04:19The mustachioed Guy Fawkes mask made popular by the V for Vendetta movie

04:24symbolizes public unity against authoritarianism.

04:28It was picked up by the hacker group Anonymous,

04:30which uses computer skills to expose perceived wrongdoers.

04:34And today, youth protesters around the globe are wearing straw hats

04:38with red ribbons and waving a Jolly Roger.

04:42We'll see what tomorrow brings.

04:44For Straight Arrow News, I'm Emma Stoltzfus.

04:46Check out our app and website at san.com for more unbiased straight facts.

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