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The iconic Straw Hat Jolly Rodger, the flag that Monkey D. Luffy brandishes as a symbol of his crew, has been one of the most enduring emblems of One Piece for decades now. However, the people of Indonesia have taken it and used it to express their frustration and dissatisfaction with the current government, making displaying the Straw Hat flag a sign of rebellion against the growing inequality in the nation.

It all started with a speech given by Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto in late July, which called for citizens to “Raise the red and white flag wherever you are” ahead of the nation’s August 17 Independence Day. However, a different flag soon began to fly across the country. The iconic Straw Hat Jolly Roger, which adorns the flags and sails of Luffy’s crew, popped up on doorways, windows, and cars, marking an unusual but highly effective form of protest.

“Even though this country is officially independent, many of us have not truly experienced that freedom in our daily lives,” Ali Maulana, a resident of Jayapura in Indonesia, told the BBC. He added that the One Piece anime reflects the injustice and inequality that Indonesians experience.

“Since the end of July, I received hundreds of orders a day from all over Indonesia,” the wonder of Wik Wiki apparel store explained, saying that the orders had totalled in the thousands already.

Some lawmakers have condemned the growing One Piece rebellion, saying that it is “a coordinated attempt to divide the nation,” despite it appearing to be a very grassroots, spontaneous form of protest.

We mentioned back in November that Luffy was the perfect symbol of rebellion in these modern times. His story is one of freedom and defiance in the face of injustice and cruelty as he brazenly declares war on the corrupt World Government. As of right now, there is still a week until Indonesia celebrates its Independence Day, giving plenty of time for this unique protest to either grow or fade, depending on the national mood. However, it seems that Indonesian anime fans have used the One Piece flag to send a very clear message – they value their freedom more than they value the government’s rule.

THE ONE PIECE IS REAL...ly important to Popverse! That's why we've put together the key articles to keep your fandom of the manga-turned-anime-turned-live-action-show alive:

• How to watch One Piece One Piece in chronological and release order (All 1,100+ episodes plus the movies!)
• When the next episode of One Piece is coming
• The One Piece English cast shared the life lessons they've learned playing the Straw Hats for nearly 20 years
• Why One Piece's Monkey D. Luffy is the perfect hero for the dark times ahead
• Every difference between the live-action One Piece and the original manga
• One Piece Gear 5 Form: Everything we know about Luffy's latest transformation
• Wondering what ethnicity and nationality the One Piece pirates are? Here is what Oda himself has to say
• Ranking the One Piece anime's arcs, from best to worst
• Why is One Piece more popular now that the anime is 25 years old? We asked around and found out
• The English cast of One Piece explain what they love about Eiichiro Oda's storytelling - "He's a genius!"