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This protest movement won't be televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and large eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve a unicorn's horn or the plumage of a chicken.

While protests opposing the government continue in American cities, protesters are adopting the vibe of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, distributed snacks, and ridden unicycles, as officers observe.

Blending comedy and political action – an approach social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a hallmark of American protest in the current era, used by various groups.

One particular emblem has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It began when video footage of an encounter between an individual in an inflatable frog and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, spread online. From there, it proliferated to protests throughout the United States.

"There's a lot at play with that little inflatable frog," states LM Bogad, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by online communities throughout a previous presidential campaign.

As the meme initially spread online, its purpose was to express specific feelings. Afterwards, it was utilized to express backing for a political figure, including one notable meme endorsed by that figure himself, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, as a historical dictator. Users exchanged "unique frog images" and established digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed a coded signal.

Yet the character did not originate this divisive.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his unhappiness for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

Pepe debuted in comic strips in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his work, he stated his drawing came from his life with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of online spaces, the creator sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves the lack of control over icons," explains Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the association of Pepe resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. This shifted in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

This incident occurred shortly after a directive to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was called "a warzone". Activists began to congregate at a specific location, just outside of an ICE office.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer deployed pepper spray at a protester, targeting the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

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

The frog suit was not too unusual for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that revel in the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the use of troops was unlawful.

While a ruling was issued in October that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire while voicing dissent."

"It is easy to see this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," she stated. "Yet the outcome has serious implications."

The order was halted by courts subsequently, and personnel are said to have left the city.

But by then, the frog had become a significant symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was seen nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was in high demand on major websites, and rose in price.

Shaping the Narrative

The link between the two amphibian symbols – is the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that draws focus to a message without needing explicitly stating them. It's the silly outfit used, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a text on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, he says.

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