Three-finger salute (pro-democracy)

The three-finger salute is a hand gesture made by raising the index, middle and ring fingers, while holding the thumb to the little finger, and raising the hand with the palm facing out in a salute. The gesture was popularized in the 2010s after its use in The Hunger Games as a symbol of revolution. The gesture has been adopted by protesters, particularly for pro-democracy protest movements in Southeast Asia, mainly in Thailand and Myanmar, as well as in other countries, including Hong Kong.

The three-finger salute

Origins

The gesture was popularized in the 2010s by The Hunger Games, a series of fiction books and films by Suzanne Collins. It bears resemblance to earlier salutes such as the Scout sign and salute and the Ukrainian salute mimicking the Tryzub symbol.

In The Hunger Games, the gesture is made by pressing the three middle fingers of the left hand to the lips and then raising it to the air. It initially appears in the first book and film of the series, when the people of District 12 salute Katniss Everdeen after she volunteers to participate in the Hunger Games in place of her sister. Later, in the second part of the series (Catching Fire), an old man in the crowd salutes Katniss this way during a tour by the victors, and the gesture becomes a symbol of the revolution along with the mockingjay song whistled by Katniss in her first games.[1]

Asian democracy movements

Thailand
Protesters displaying the three-finger salute in front of the Democracy Monument during the 2020 Thai protests

The salute first became a real-world pro-democracy symbol in the aftermath of the 2014 Thai coup d'état.[2] Due to its use, the symbol was made illegal in Thailand.[3] Protesters have since added symbolism to the gesture, stating that the three fingers stand for the French Revolutionary ideal of liberty, equality, fraternity.[4] The gesture was revived by protesters in the 2020 Thai political crisis.[5]

Hong Kong

The salute was used for a time during the Umbrella Movement in 2014[6] before being revived in the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests, inspired by its renewed usage in Thailand,[7] and continues to be used to symbolize resistance against the Chinese government.[8]

Myanmar
Protestors displaying the three-finger salute near Sule Pagoda in Yangon

The salute became a symbol of opposition to the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état.[9] The movement was launched on social media, and many Myanmar celebrities such as Paing Takhon and Dave Leduc have joined the movement.[10][11]

Cambodia

Mu Sochua, former vice president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), called on the opposition party's supporters to adopt the symbol as a sign of solidarity with Myanmar and as a protest against the current government of Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP).[12] A representative of the CPP condemned these actions, saying that they were undermining the country.[13]

Other uses

Philippines

Before its adoption as a pro-democracy symbol, Philippine senator Miriam Defensor Santiago used it in a 2013 privilege speech in response to then-Senate president Juan Ponce Enrile, criticizing his personal and political conduct dating back to Ferdinand Marcos's regime, in response to his allegations about her mental health.[14] In this context, she deviated from her prepared remarks after declaring, "His mind is sick, sick, sick...[You are] three times sick!" using the language of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.[15][16]

In 2017, a group of critics of President Rodrigo Duterte also used the salute to express dissent towards his administration and the killings related to the country's war on drugs.[17]

United States

The non-profit organization Harry Potter Alliance used the three-finger salute to criticize economic and wage inequality in American companies such as Walmart and McDonald's.[18] The move was supported by the AFL–CIO, who responded by posting pictures of union leaders posing with the symbol.[19]

See also
  • Rabia sign, similar gesture with four fingers
  • Milk Tea Alliance, a democratic solidarity movement in Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Myanmar

References
  1. Gallup, Jasmine (20 March 2021). "Hunger Games: Why District 12 Uses A 3 Finger Salute (& What It Means)". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  2. "'Hunger Games' salute back". Bangkok Post. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  3. "Hunger Games salute banned by Thai military". The Guardian. Associated Press. 3 June 2014. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  4. Tharoor, Ishaan (20 November 2014). "Why are China and Thailand scared of the 'Hunger Games'?". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  5. Zheng, Sara (19 August 2020). "From Belarus to Thailand: Hong Kong's protest playbook is spreading everywhere". Inkstone. Hong Kong: South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  6. Sim, David (11 December 2014). "Hong Kong: Defiant protesters give Hunger Games' three-fingered salute as police clear camp". International Business Times UK. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  7. "Campus march by Hong Kong graduates marks a year since university clashes". The Straits Times. 19 November 2020. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  8. Agence France-Presse (1 March 2021). "Crowds gather outside court after Hong Kong dissidents charged". Bangkok Post. Bangkok Post Public Company, Limited. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  9. Quinley, Caleb (8 February 2021). "Three-finger salute: Hunger Games symbol adopted by Myanmar protesters". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  10. "Dave Leduc, a champion stands with the people". Insight Myanmar. 15 November 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  11. "Hunger Games salute catching fire in post-coup Myanmar". Coconuts. 3 February 2021. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  12. "Cambodians urged to adopt three-finger salute - UCA News". ucanews.com. 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  13. Sokhean, Ben (18 February 2021). "Gov't slams ex-opposition's call to adopt 'three-finger salute'". Khmer Times. Phnom Penh. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  14. Defensor Santiago, Miriam (4 December 2013). "Press Release - Santiago: Navigating the crimes of the plunder mastermind". legacy.senate.gov.ph. Senate of the Philippines. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  15. Dumaual, Miguel (4 December 2013). "Hip Miriam channels Katniss Everdeen vs Enrile". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  16. "Livestream: Privilege Speech of Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago". YouTube. 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  17. "Anti-Duterte coalition adopts 'Hunger Games' salute". GMA News. 19 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  18. Ashoka (5 December 2014). "Hunger Games Salute Used By Black Friday Protesters Fighting For Higher Wages". Forbes. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  19. Tortora, Jackie (22 November 2014). "The Hunger Games Are Real". aflcio.org. AFL–CIO. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
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