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This resistance may not be televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

As protests opposing the leadership carry on in American cities, demonstrators have embraced the vibe of a community costume parade. They've provided dance instruction, distributed treats, and ridden unicycles, while police look on.

Mixing levity and political action – a tactic social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in the current era, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It originated when a video of a clash between a man in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in the city of Portland, went viral. It subsequently appeared to protests nationwide.

"A great deal at play with that humble blow-up amphibian," states LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who studies creative activism.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to examine protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by far-right groups during a previous presidential campaign.

As the character initially spread online, it was used to express specific feelings. Afterwards, it was utilized to endorse a political figure, even a particular image endorsed by the candidate personally, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, as a hate group member. Users traded "unique frog images" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed a coded signal.

However the character did not originate so controversial.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

Pepe first appeared in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. A film, which follows the creator's attempt to take back of his work, he stated the character was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

When he began, the artist experimented with uploading his work to early internet platforms, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of online spaces, the creator tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves that creators cannot own icons," explains Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reworked."

Previously, the association of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery were largely associated with the right. A transformation occurred on a day in October, when an incident between a protestor dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland went viral.

The event occurred shortly after an order to send the National Guard to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, near a federal building.

The situation was tense and a officer sprayed a chemical agent at a protester, targeting the ventilation of the costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, saying 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 activist demonstrations that revel in the absurd – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume was also referenced in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which argued the use of troops was unlawful.

While a ruling was issued that month that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion the protesters' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes when expressing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge stated. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The action was "permanently" blocked just a month later, and personnel withdrew from the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume was now a potent symbol of resistance for the left.

The inflatable suit was seen across the country at No Kings protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

This item was sold out on major websites, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Narrative

The link between Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that draws focus to a cause without needing obviously explaining them. It's the unusual prop used, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

As protesters confront the state, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences