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This protest movement may not be televised, but it could have amphibious toes and large eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve a unicorn's horn or the plumage of a chicken.

Whilst rallies opposing the government continue in US cities, demonstrators are utilizing the energy of a local block party. They have taught dance instruction, handed out snacks, and performed on unicycles, as police observe.

Blending comedy and politics – a tactic researchers call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a signature characteristic of American protest in the current era, used by various groups.

And one symbol has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It started after a video of an encounter between an individual in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to demonstrations nationwide.

"There's a lot at play with that humble frog costume," states an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who studies performance art.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a web comic frog co-opted by online communities during a political race.

When the character first took off on the internet, its purpose was to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, it was utilized to show support for a candidate, even one notable meme shared by that figure himself, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a coded signal.

But the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Its creator, the illustrator, has expressed about his unhappiness for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

This character debuted in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. A film, which follows Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he stated his drawing came from his experiences with companions.

When he began, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to new websites, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of the internet, the creator attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own imagery," explains Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reworked."

For a long time, the notoriety of Pepe meant that frogs were predominantly linked to the right. A transformation occurred in early October, when a confrontation between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The event occurred shortly after an order to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Demonstrators began to congregate at a specific location, near an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer used pepper spray at a protester, targeting the air intake fan of the costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, remarking he had tasted "something milder". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for the city, known for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that delight in the unusual – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which argued the deployment was illegal.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the president had the right to deploy troops, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion the protesters' "propensity for wearing chicken suits when expressing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which adopts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge stated. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was halted by courts soon after, and personnel are said to have left the city.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had become a potent symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was seen in many cities at No Kings protests recently. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

The inflatable suit was backordered on major websites, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Optics

What connects Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the relationship between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "disarming and charming" act that calls attention to a cause without needing obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the meme you share.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and an experienced participant. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and still have plausible deniability."

The purpose of this approach is multi-faceted, he explains.

As activists take on a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences