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This protest movement isn't televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

As demonstrations opposing the administration carry on in American cities, participants have embraced the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided dance instruction, distributed snacks, and ridden unicycles, while officers look on.

Mixing levity and politics – a strategy researchers term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a defining feature of protests in the United States in recent years, used by various groups.

And one symbol has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It began after a video of a confrontation between an individual in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. It subsequently appeared to protests nationwide.

"There's a lot happening with that humble inflatable frog," says a professor, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by online communities throughout a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the character gained popularity on the internet, its purpose was to signal specific feelings. Later, it was utilized to endorse a candidate, including one notable meme shared by the candidate personally, showing the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in darker contexts, as a historical dictator. Participants traded "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

But Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has been vocal about his disapproval for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

This character debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he stated his drawing was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist experimented with sharing his art to new websites, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates that we don't control imagery," says the professor. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

Until recently, the popularity of Pepe meant that frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. But that changed recently, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The moment occurred shortly after an order to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, just outside of an ICE office.

Tensions were high and a officer sprayed irritant at the individual, directing it into the air intake fan of the puffy frog costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". However, the video went viral.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for Portland, renowned for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that embrace the unusual – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume became part of in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which contended the deployment was unlawful.

Although the court ruled in October that the president was within its rights to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire while voicing opposition."

"It is easy to see this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber stated. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The order was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and troops have reportedly departed the area.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had become a powerful anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The costume appeared in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Visual Story

What connects the two amphibian symbols – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "disarming and charming" act that highlights a cause without obviously explaining them. This is the unusual prop used, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

The purpose of this approach is multi-faceted, he says.

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