Thai Teens Use Hunger Games Salute In Protest

Life imitates art as Thai protesters of the May 22 military coup have started using the three-fingered salute from Hunger Games in silent protest.

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According to a story on Buzzfeed, Thai protesters have taken to using a three-finger gesture that is similar to the one depicted in the Hunger Games franchise. The use of the silent protest began in June, but has gained new momentum as the release date to The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 has arrived.

Thai officials said back in June that they were monitoring use of the protest and wouldn’t hesitate to arrest protesters if they decided it was a threat. The salute caught the eye of the international community when a flash mob descended on Bangkok brandishing three fingers while calling for “freedom” and “democracy.” Now that the three fingers are associated with this type of protest, using it could be grounds for arrest in Thailand.

The director of the franchise, Francis Lawrence, said he isn’t quite sure how to react.

"“It’s kind of a complicated set of feelings that I went through,” he said. “There’s the first response of seeing, ‘Oh, this kid’s using that [salute]. Isn’t that strange?’ And then you go, ‘Oh, wow, the government just made it illegal. Oh, wow, now kids are getting arrested for it.’”"

He and producer Nina Jacobson and screenwriter Peter Craig also said that the use of the gesture was powerful being mimicked in a real life situation of resistance and protest. At the same time, everyone involved hopes that the kids using it are ok and not being arrested.

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