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The protest movement isn't broadcast, though it may feature amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

Whilst rallies against the government persist in US cities, protesters are utilizing the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've offered salsa lessons, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, while officers watch.

Mixing humour and politics – an approach experts term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of American protest in this period, used by both left and right.

A specific icon has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It began when a video of a clash between an individual in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations across the country.

"There's a lot going on with that humble inflatable frog," notes an expert, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in creative activism.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by extremist movements throughout a political race.

As the character first took off online, its purpose was to express specific feelings. Later, it was utilized to endorse a political figure, including one notable meme endorsed by that figure personally, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants traded "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed a shared phrase.

But Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

Pepe debuted in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a particular bathroom habit. A film, which chronicles the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he explained the character came from his time with companions.

Early in his career, the artist tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into darker parts of the internet, the creator sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that we don't control icons," states the professor. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

For a long time, the association of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery were largely associated with the right. But that changed in early October, when a confrontation between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

This incident followed an order to send the National Guard to the city, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to congregate outside a facility, just outside of an ICE office.

The situation was tense and an agent sprayed irritant at a protester, targeting the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, saying it tasted like "something milder". But the incident spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, known for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog became part of in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which argued the deployment overstepped authority.

While the court ruled that month that the president was within its rights to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for using unusual attire when expressing opposition."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge wrote. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The action was halted by courts subsequently, and troops have reportedly departed the city.

Yet already, the frog had transformed into a significant symbol of resistance for the left.

The costume appeared in many cities at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on online retailers, and rose in price.

Shaping the Optics

What connects Pepe and the protest frog – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "disarming and charming" act that highlights a message without explicitly stating them. It's the unusual prop used, or the meme circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

The theory of such tactics is multi-faceted, he explains.

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