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The protest movement won't be broadcast, yet it might possess amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

While protests opposing the government continue in US cities, participants are adopting the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided salsa lessons, distributed treats, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement observe.

Combining comedy and political action – an approach social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in recent years, used by both left and right.

A specific icon has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It started after video footage of a confrontation between a protester in an inflatable frog and federal officers in the city of Portland, spread online. From there, it proliferated to protests across the country.

"There's a lot going on with that small blow-up amphibian," says an expert, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who studies creative activism.

From Pepe to Portland

It's hard to examine protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by extremist movements during a political race.

When the meme initially spread online, its purpose was to signal certain emotions. Subsequently, its use evolved to express backing for a candidate, even one notable meme retweeted by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Online conservatives exchanged "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was used a coded signal.

But Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Its creator, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for its co-option. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he explained the character came from his life with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to new websites, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into the more extreme corners of the internet, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over icons," explains Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the association of this meme resulted in amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to conservative politics. This shifted in early October, when a viral moment between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

The moment followed a directive to send the National Guard to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to gather in droves at a specific location, just outside of an ICE office.

The situation was tense and a officer deployed irritant at a protester, aiming directly into the opening of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, quipped, stating it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

The costume was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel 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 a lawsuit between the administration and the city, which argued the use of troops overstepped authority.

While the court ruled in October that the president had the right to send personnel, one judge dissented, mentioning the protesters' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire when expressing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," she stated. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

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

Yet already, the amphibian costume was now a significant symbol of resistance for the left.

This symbol was spotted in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

The inflatable suit was backordered on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Visual Story

What connects both frogs together – is the relationship between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that calls attention to a cause without needing explicitly stating them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the meme circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and an experienced participant. He's written a book on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

The theory of such tactics is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad says.

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