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The protest movement won't be broadcast, yet it might possess amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

While protests against the leadership continue in American cities, participants have embraced the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided dance instruction, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, as officers look on.

Blending levity and political action – a strategy researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in the current era, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It started after video footage of a clash between a man in an inflatable frog and federal officers in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to rallies nationwide.

"A great deal happening with that humble inflatable frog," says a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies political performance.

The Path From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by online communities during an election cycle.

When this image initially spread on the internet, it was used to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, it was utilized to express backing for a candidate, including a particular image retweeted by the candidate himself, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in darker contexts, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and established digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was deployed a coded signal.

Yet the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has expressed about his unhappiness for its appropriation. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

This character first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he explained the character came from his experiences with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to the nascent social web, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over imagery," states Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

Until recently, the notoriety of Pepe meant that frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. But that changed in early October, when a confrontation between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland spread rapidly online.

This incident occurred shortly after a decision to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to congregate on a single block, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and an agent used irritant at the individual, directing it into the opening of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, quipped, remarking it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident spread everywhere.

The costume was somewhat typical for the city, renowned for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel in the absurd – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and the city, which claimed the deployment was illegal.

Although the court ruled that month that the president had the right to send personnel, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber stated. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The order was halted by courts soon after, and personnel are said to have left the area.

Yet already, the amphibian costume had become a significant symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit appeared across the country at anti-authoritarian protests recently. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

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

Mastering the Narrative

What connects Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the interplay between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "disarming and charming" display that calls attention to your ideas without needing explicitly stating them. It's the silly outfit used, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

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