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

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

While protests against the government persist in American cities, demonstrators have embraced the spirit of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided dance instruction, distributed treats, and performed on unicycles, as police look on.

Combining comedy and political action – a tactic researchers term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of US demonstrations in recent years, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It started after a video of a confrontation between a protester in an amphibian costume and federal officers in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to rallies across the country.

"A great deal going on with that small blow-up amphibian," notes an expert, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in performance art.

From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's hard to discuss protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by far-right groups throughout a political race.

When the character first took off on the internet, people used it to signal certain emotions. Subsequently, it was utilized to show support for a candidate, even one notable meme endorsed by the candidate personally, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users exchanged "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a coded signal.

But the character did not originate so controversial.

Its creator, the illustrator, has stated about his disapproval for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

Pepe debuted in comic strips in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. A film, which follows the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he stated the character was inspired by his time with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to the nascent social web, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves the lack of control over symbols," explains the professor. "They transform and be reclaimed."

Previously, the notoriety of this meme meant that frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. But that changed in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland captured global attention.

The event followed a decision to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to congregate outside a facility, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and an agent sprayed irritant at a protester, targeting the opening of the costume.

The protester, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, stating it tasted like "something milder". But the incident spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for the city, known for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel in the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which claimed the use of troops was unlawful.

While the court ruled that month that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, mentioning the protesters' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The order was stopped legally just a month later, and personnel are said to have left the area.

But by then, the amphibian costume was now a significant protest icon for the left.

The inflatable suit was spotted across the country at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

This item was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Narrative

The link between Pepe and the protest frog – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it acts as a "disarming and charming" act that draws focus to your ideas without needing directly articulating them. This is the silly outfit used, or the meme circulated.

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

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

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

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