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

Additionally, it could include the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

Whilst rallies against the administration continue in American cities, demonstrators are utilizing the spirit of a local block party. They've provided dance instruction, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, while officers look on.

Blending comedy and political action – a tactic researchers term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of protests in the United States in this period, used by both left and right.

And one symbol has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It originated when recordings of an encounter between a protester in an amphibian costume and federal officers in the city of Portland, went viral. And it has since spread to protests throughout the United States.

"A great deal happening with that little inflatable frog," notes a professor, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on political performance.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It is difficult to talk about protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by extremist movements throughout a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when this image gained popularity online, its purpose was to convey certain emotions. Subsequently, it was utilized to endorse a candidate, even one notable meme retweeted by that figure personally, showing the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used a coded signal.

Yet Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has stated about his disapproval for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

This character first appeared in an online comic in 2005 – non-political and best known for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which follows Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his work, he said the character came from his life with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist tried uploading his work to the nascent social web, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of the internet, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that creators cannot own symbols," says the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Until recently, the popularity of this meme resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. But that changed on a day in October, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The event occurred shortly after a directive to send military personnel to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to gather in droves at a specific location, near an ICE office.

The situation was tense and a officer used irritant at a protester, directing it into the opening of the inflatable suit.

The individual, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, saying he had tasted "something milder". But the incident spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for the city, famous for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that embrace the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol became part of in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the use of troops overstepped authority.

While a ruling was issued in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning demonstrators' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes when expressing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge stated. "Yet the outcome has serious implications."

The action was halted by courts soon after, and personnel withdrew from the area.

But by then, the amphibian costume was now a significant symbol of resistance for the left.

The costume was seen across the country at No Kings protests last autumn. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was backordered on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Optics

What connects the two amphibian symbols – is the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it acts as a "disarming and charming" performance that draws focus to a cause without needing directly articulating them. This is the goofy costume used, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

The purpose of this approach is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad says.

As protesters confront a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences