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This resistance may not be televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and large eyes.

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

Whilst protests against the administration carry on in US cities, participants have embraced the energy of a community costume parade. They've provided salsa lessons, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, as police observe.

Blending comedy and politics – a tactic experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in this period, used by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It began after recordings of an encounter between a man in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. From there, it proliferated to rallies across the country.

"There's a lot at play with that small inflatable frog," states a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in performance art.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog adopted by online communities during an election cycle.

When this image initially spread online, people used it to express certain emotions. Afterwards, its use evolved to show support for a candidate, including one notable meme retweeted by that figure himself, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants traded "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became a coded signal.

However the character did not originate this divisive.

Its creator, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in an online comic in 2005 – apolitical and famous for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his work, he explained the character came from his life with companions.

When he began, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into darker parts of online spaces, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It proves that we don't control symbols," states the professor. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

For a long time, the association of this meme resulted in frogs were largely associated with the right. A transformation occurred recently, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The moment came just days after an order to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Tensions were high and an agent deployed a chemical agent at the individual, aiming directly into the ventilation of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating it tasted like "something milder". However, the video went viral.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for the city, known for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that embrace the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume was also referenced in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and Portland, which argued the deployment overstepped authority.

While the court ruled that month that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion the protesters' "propensity for using unusual attire when expressing opposition."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber stated. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The deployment was stopped legally subsequently, and troops withdrew from the area.

But by then, the amphibian costume had become a powerful symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was seen across the country at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on major websites, and rose in price.

Controlling the Narrative

What connects Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the interplay between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that draws focus to your ideas without needing explicitly stating them. This is the silly outfit used, or the meme circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

As protesters take on authority, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences