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The protest movement may not be broadcast, though it may feature amphibious toes and large eyes.

It also might feature the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

As protests opposing the administration persist in American cities, participants have embraced the spirit of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've offered dance instruction, handed out treats, and performed on unicycles, while officers look on.

Blending levity and political action – an approach experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in this period, adopted by both left and right.

A specific icon has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It started after video footage of a confrontation between an individual in an amphibian costume and federal officers in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to protests throughout the United States.

"A great deal at play with that small inflatable frog," says a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies creative activism.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to talk about protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by far-right groups throughout an election cycle.

As the meme initially spread online, people used it to express certain emotions. Afterwards, its use evolved to express backing for a candidate, including a particular image endorsed by that figure himself, portraying Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in darker contexts, as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "unique frog images" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a shared phrase.

Yet the character did not originate this divisive.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his disapproval for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

This character first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which follows Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his work, he said the character came from his time with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to new websites, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that creators cannot own imagery," says the professor. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the notoriety of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. This shifted recently, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

This incident came just days after an order to deploy military personnel to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and an agent sprayed a chemical agent at the individual, directing it into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, remarking it tasted like "spicier tamales". However, the video went viral.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, renowned for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that revel in the absurd – outdoor exercise, 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 administration and Portland, which claimed the deployment was unlawful.

Although a ruling was issued that month that the president had the right to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning the protesters' "known tendency for using unusual attire while voicing their disagreement."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "But today's decision has serious implications."

The order was stopped legally just a month later, and personnel have reportedly departed the area.

But by then, the frog was now a potent symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit appeared in many cities at No Kings protests last autumn. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

This item was in high demand on major websites, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Narrative

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

The tactic rests on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that highlights your ideas without directly articulating them. This is the goofy costume used, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

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

When activists confront a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences