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The resistance may not be broadcast, but it could have webbed feet and large eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations opposing the leadership continue in US cities, protesters are utilizing the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They have taught dance instruction, distributed treats, and performed on unicycles, as armed law enforcement observe.

Combining humour and politics – a strategy researchers 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.

A specific icon has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It originated after a video of a confrontation between an individual in an inflatable frog and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, spread online. And it has since spread to protests nationwide.

"A great deal going on with that small inflatable frog," states an expert, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on performance art.

The Path From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to discuss protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by extremist movements during an election cycle.

When the meme first took off on the internet, it was used to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, it was deployed to endorse a political figure, even a particular image endorsed by that figure personally, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users exchanged "unique frog images" and set up digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", became a shared phrase.

However the character did not originate this divisive.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his disapproval for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

This character debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he said the character came from his life with companions.

As he started out, the artist tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into darker parts of the internet, the creator tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over symbols," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be repurposed."

Until recently, the popularity of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery became a symbol for conservative politics. A transformation occurred recently, when an incident between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

The moment followed a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "a warzone". Protesters began to congregate on a single block, near an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and a officer deployed pepper spray at a protester, targeting the opening of the costume.

The protester, the man in the costume, quipped, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage went viral.

The costume was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that delight in the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

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

While a ruling was issued in October that the president had the right to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion the protesters' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire when expressing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," she stated. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The action was "permanently" blocked soon after, and troops have reportedly departed the city.

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

The inflatable suit was spotted across the country at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

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

Shaping the Optics

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

This approach relies on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that highlights a message without needing directly articulating them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He authored a text on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and still have plausible deniability."

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

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