Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia’s social media are being flooded with profile pictures shaded in “Brave Pink” and “Hero Green”. The trend have emerged as powerful symbols of solidarity, defiance, and hope in the wake of recent mass protests.
The colors stem from two real-life moments that struck a chord with the public. Brave Pink was inspired by an image of a woman in a pink hijab standing alone outside the national parliament complex in Jakarta, during a mass protests on August 28, 2025.
Holding only a small Indonesian flag on a bamboo stick, she faced off against lines of riot police. Her act of courage went viral, with pink quickly adopted online as a symbol of civilian bravery.
Hero Green, by contrast, was born out of tragedy. The color was chosen to honor Affan Kurniawan, a motorcycle taxi driver who killed when he was run over by a paramilitary police vehicle in central Jakarta on the same day.
Kurniawan had not been taking part in the protest as he was delivering food when the incident occurred. Green, tied to the jackets worn by ride-hailing drivers, has since become a symbol of grief, solidarity, and collective empathy.
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Psychologists often associate pink with friendliness, warmth, and calm. But in this movement, the color has shifted to represent civil courage, the idea that gentleness can stand firm against power. The image of the woman in the pink hijab has transformed pink from a feminine hue into an icon of peaceful resistance and optimism.
Green, usually seen as a symbol of balance and harmony, has taken on deeper meaning in the “Hero Green” campaign, now representing shared mourning and unity. Many posts pair the color with the words “Transparency, Reform, Empathy”, underscoring the movement’s moral message.
Colors have long been used worldwide to convey political and social demands. In Indonesia, Brave Pink and Hero Green have evolved into a new visual language of protest as the pink symbolize civil courage, while green reflects solidarity and sacrifice.
(Raidi/Agung)
