The flag has been seen flying in various protests against corruption, economic hardship, and injustice.
It’s not everyday you get to see just how much an anime can change the world, but Eiichiro Oda’s “One Piece” is sparking an inspirational fire amongst its fans.
The anime’s hopeful ideas of equality and justice, integrated into its iconic and symbolic Jolly Roger flag, has emboldened Gen Z protesters into demanding a positive change in their governments. The flag has been sighted in various protests around the world, particularly in protests in Indonesia, Morocco, Nepal, East Timor, and Peru.
The Straw Hats flag flies all over the world
The origin of the use of the One Piece Jolly Roger flag as a protest symbol is contested, although it reportedly started in Indonesia. Some say it became viral on 30 July 2025, after a group of truckers planned to fly the One Piece flag on their trucks instead of the Indonesian flag on Independence Day–a form of protest against transportation reforms. Others pointed to the “Dark Indonesia” student protests that occurred in February this year, a massive protest movement which occurred in major cities within the country opposing Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s budget austerity measures.
However, the use of the flag came into prominence during the Indonesian anti-government protests, leading up to Indonesia’s 80th independence day on 17 August, 2025.
Following Indonesia, protests in Nepal used the Straw Hats flag as a key symbol during their Gen Z protests. The flag was plastered all over social media, alongside slogans criticising political figures and their luxurious lifestyles, and would later on be hung at the gates of the Singha Durbar palace, as K.P Sharma Oli resigned from his position as Prime Minister on 9 September.
The flag was later sighted in the “Trillion Peso March” protest, which was orchestrated against corruption within the government in the Philippines on 21 September, as well as in East Timor when university students protested against lifetime pensions for parliament members. The flag was also seen in the French anti-government Bloquons tout protests that occurred in the same month, followed by usage in protests in Peru and Paraguay.
The flag was also present in Gaza war protests in London, as well as protests in New York, Morocco, Rome, Slovakia, Hungary, and Portland.
The Straw Hats flag reappears in Madagascar
The latest appearance of the Straw Hats flag in protest is in Madagascar, as Gen Z protesters banded together under the flag in frustration against chronic power and water shortages.
The protest began on 25 September, and was later joined by the military to oust then president Andry Rajoelina. Rajoelina fled the country on 13 October, and was impeached and removed from office the following day, after he attempted and failed to dissolve the National Assembly.
What began as a niche cultural reference has evolved into a global emblem of dissent. The Jolly Roger flag from One Piece now represents a unifying call among protesters across continents, symbolizing resistance against perceived injustice and corruption. Its widespread use underscores the growing influence of pop culture in shaping political expression, especially among younger generations.
Whether seen as a sign of defiance or hope, the Straw Hat flag has become a visual shorthand for a generation determined to challenge authority and demand accountability.