Peru's Gen Z protests follow youth demonstrations in
Indonesia and
Nepal. A common feature in the demonstrations has been a
skull in a straw hat, a symbol from the Japanese manga "One Piece" about treasure-hunting pirates.
Leonardo Munoz is one of the protesters in Lima embracing the symbol.
"The main character, Luffy, travels from town to town freeing people from tyrannical, corrupt rulers in towns of slaves," Munoz said. "It represents what’s going on in various countries. That’s what is happening now in Peru.”
According to Peru's INE statistics agency, 27% of Peru's population is between the ages 18 and 29.
"We're tired of this being normalized. Since when have we normalized death, since when have we normalized corruption, extortion," said Santiago Zapata, a student protester.
"My generation is coming out to protest now because we're tired of being silenced, made to feel afraid when the government we elected should fear us."