How straw hat Jolly Roger flag became symbol of Gen Z protests worldwide

The graphic novel series was first published in 1997 — coincidentally, the year that separates the Gen Z from Millennials. It has now reached its final saga and is expected to end in a few years. Luffy, the protagonist of the series, leads a motley crew, fending off repressive rulers and the corrupt ‘World Government’. United under the straw-hatted Jolly Roger flag, these ‘outlaws’ came to represent liberation and resilience. A generation that grew up watching them, and now finds itself disenchanted by the powers that be, resonated with the Straw-Hat Pirates, turning them into symbols of modern protests.

The flag first cropped up at pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Indonesia and New York in 2023.