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This protest movement may not be broadcast, yet it might possess amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

As rallies against the administration continue in US cities, participants are adopting the energy of a community costume parade. They've provided dance instruction, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, as officers watch.

Mixing levity and political action – a strategy researchers call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of protests in the United States in this period, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It originated after a video of a confrontation between a protester in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to rallies nationwide.

"There is much going on with that small blow-up amphibian," notes a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in creative activism.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It's hard to discuss protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by extremist movements throughout a previous presidential campaign.

When the meme first took off online, its purpose was to signal specific feelings. Later, its use evolved to endorse a candidate, including a particular image endorsed by that figure himself, portraying Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a hate group member. Users traded "unique frog images" and set up digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used a coded signal.

But Pepe didn't start out as a political symbol.

Its creator, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

This character debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – non-political and best known for a particular bathroom habit. A film, which documents the creator's attempt to take back of his work, he said his drawing came from his experiences with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist tried uploading his work to new websites, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of the internet, the creator tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that creators cannot own imagery," says the professor. "They transform and be repurposed."

For a long time, the popularity of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with the right. This shifted in early October, when an incident between a protestor dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

This incident followed a directive to send the National Guard to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to gather in droves outside a facility, just outside of an ICE office.

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

The individual, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, saying it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage became a sensation.

The frog suit was not too unusual for Portland, famous for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that embrace the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog even played a role in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which argued the deployment overstepped authority.

While a ruling was issued in October that the administration had the right to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge stated. "But today's decision has serious implications."

The order was halted by courts subsequently, and personnel withdrew from the area.

However, by that time, the frog had become a significant protest icon for the left.

The inflatable suit was spotted nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was sold out on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Visual Story

What connects both frogs together – lies in the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that calls attention to a message without needing obviously explaining them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a text 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 a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

As activists confront authority, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences