Gen Z-led protests are making waves from Africa to Asia, and while the issues spurring them are different, the symbol they’re using is the same: a grinning skull and crossbones wearing a straw hat.

It was there when young people angry with the lavish lifestyles of the elite brought down Nepal’s government last month. It was visible in the Indonesian and Philippine protests this year, and again when Madagascan youth marched against chronic water and electricity shortages over the past 10 days. Right now, it’s being waved at protests raging over poor healthcare in Morocco.

The flag comes from a long-running Japanese anime and manga series called One Piece, about a rag-tag band of pirates dubbed “the straw hats,” who are led by a cheerful character named Monkey D. Luffy and are fighting an oppressive world government.

  • k0e3
    2·
    4 days ago

    Funny how conservative and obedient people are where the anime is made. I know we don’t have it as bad as some countries: we aren’t being randomly detained, we have food, and most of us have homes. But with the rise of extreme nationalism amongst ordinary people and increasing prices on everything, I wish we could do a bit of civil disobedience here in Japan too.