Scroll through social media this week and you’ll see it everywhere: posts in blue, pink, and green. At first glance, it looks like just another visual trend. But behind these colors lies a movement shaking Indonesia—the “17+8 People’s Demands: Transparency, Reform, and Empathy.”

Since August 25, 2025, massive demonstrations have erupted nationwide, with crowds rejecting policies seen as unfair to ordinary citizens. In the middle of it all, colors have become more than decoration—they’ve become symbols of defiance, identity, and solidarity.

 
Brave Pink: The Mother Who Stood Against Water Cannons
On August 28, 2025, outside the DPR building, one moment captured the heart of the nation. A woman in a pink headscarf stood fearlessly at the front lines, facing police armed with tear gas and water cannons. She not only held her ground but raised her voice in defiance, bamboo stick in hand.

That image went viral, transforming pink into the color of courage—a reminder that even those often dismissed as “ordinary” can stand as symbols of extraordinary bravery.

 
Hero Green: The Fallen Driver Who Became a Symbol of Hope
Not all stories came from protesters. Affan Kurniawan, an ojek driver in his signature green jacket and helmet, was killed in Central Jakarta when struck by a tactical vehicle on August 28. He wasn’t protesting—he was simply delivering food.

Affan’s death left grief across the nation, uniting ojol communities and everyday citizens alike. Green is now carried as a banner of remembrance and hope: a fight for justice, dignity, and equality for every worker.

 
Resistance Blue: A Color That Refuses to Fade
Blue first appeared in August 2024 during the “Emergency Democracy” movement, when it symbolized resistance against election law changes. A year later, it’s back—Resistance Blue—standing for awareness, unity, and the refusal to bow to authoritarianism.

 
The Power of Colors in Protest
Together, Brave Pink, Hero Green, and Resistance Blue have turned into a visual vocabulary of resistance. They’re not just colors—they’re emotions, memories, and collective voices.

• Pink = courage of the marginalized
• Green = memory and hope for justice
• Blue = unity in resisting oppression

In a time when words are often drowned out, symbols speak louder. Through color, Indonesians are declaring that their fight isn’t just political—it’s deeply human.