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The protest movement may not be televised, yet it might possess amphibious toes and large eyes.

Additionally, it could include the horn of a unicorn or a chicken's feathers.

Whilst rallies opposing the administration persist in American cities, protesters are utilizing the spirit of a neighborhood dress-up party. They have taught salsa lessons, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, as police observe.

Combining comedy and political action – a tactic researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a defining feature of US demonstrations in this period, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It started after a video of a confrontation between a man in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. And it has since spread to rallies throughout the United States.

"There is much going on with that small inflatable frog," notes LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in political performance.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to discuss protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by online communities during a political race.

As the character first took off online, its purpose was to express certain emotions. Subsequently, it was deployed to express backing for a political figure, including a particular image endorsed by that figure himself, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in offensive ways, as a hate group member. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

Yet Pepe didn't start out as a political symbol.

Its creator, the illustrator, has been vocal about his distaste for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in his series.

This character first appeared in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which follows the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his work, he said the character was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

When he began, the artist tried sharing his art to new websites, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of online spaces, the creator tried to disavow the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that creators cannot own symbols," says the professor. "They transform and be reclaimed."

Previously, the popularity of this meme resulted in frogs were largely associated with the right. But that changed on a day in October, when a confrontation between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident occurred shortly after a directive to send military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Protesters began to gather in droves on a single block, near a federal building.

Emotions ran high and an agent sprayed irritant at a protester, aiming directly into the opening of the costume.

The protester, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, saying it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage became a sensation.

The frog suit was not too unusual for Portland, renowned for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that embrace the absurd – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and Portland, which argued the deployment was unlawful.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the administration had the right to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for wearing chicken suits while voicing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge stated. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked soon after, and troops withdrew from the city.

Yet already, the frog had transformed into a significant protest icon for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was spotted nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

This item was backordered on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Narrative

What connects the two amphibian symbols – lies in the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "disarming and charming" act that draws focus to your ideas without needing directly articulating them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the meme you share.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

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