The Straw Hat Pirates are a global symbol for unified revolution and youth visibility. Recent protests led by younger generations in Nepal, Indonesia and the Philippines have invoked the powerful symbol of the Straw Hats to send a message that the current world order is rightfully under threat.
Protestors in Nepal lit the sacred Singha Durbar on fire and hung the flag on the ornate front gates while it burned. The Indonesian government attempted to criminalize displaying the flag, likening it to treason, ahead of the 80th Indonesian Independence Day. The Philippines saw protests that confronted misused emergency management funds.
The protests addressed economic inequality, corruption and injustice that have been baked into a world system by powerful elites. The spirit of the Straw Hat Jolly Roger exemplifies unrest and the will to fight.
Created by Eiichiro Oda in 1997, “One Piece” is the story of a powerful group of friends sailing the ocean as pirates in search of the “One Piece.” Oda has built a massively detailed universe with gut-wrenchingly sad back stories and laugh-out-loud quirkiness.
The captain, Monkey D. Luffy (pronounced Loof-ee) is a formidable man made of rubber, who wears a straw hat and will stop at nothing to become the King of the Pirates. He assembled his small crew based on fierce friendship and Luffy’s persistence to prove to each one that their life matters.
In their adventures, Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hats repeatedly challenge the World Government, the Marines and all of the elites that uphold the status quo. Guided by that classic anime-main-character-intuition, Luffy’s sense of justice protects his friends and demonstrates to the masses of the world that they can fight back too.
Their black pirate flag, also called the Straw Hat Jolly Roger is a skull and crossbones wearing Luffy’s iconic straw hat. It’s typically the first thing people see when the Straw Hats arrive on the scene.
Because of the power that this flag represents, protesters have been using it to signal to their adversaries that the time for justice is now – and it’s working. The simple fact that Indonesian officials attempted to criminalize its use is proof of the flag’s symbolic power. In Nepal, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stepped down in the wake of the protests.
Yes, the show has over 1,100 episodes, and the manga has over 100 volumes, but the stories Oda tells and the allegory for revolution consistently captivate. I sobbed with spit and snot as Robin, a crew member, tried to give up on herself, but Luffy fought against all odds and the World Government for her. I felt empowered when Luffy stood up to a Celestial Dragon (this world’s 1% elite) who was beating an enslaved person in public.
Oda writes countless stories of devastation, resolve, rebellion and collective action. The power of these stories is encapsulated in this flag. This power is driving social change.
