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The resistance isn't broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

As protests against the administration persist in American cities, demonstrators are adopting the vibe of a community costume parade. They've offered salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, as police observe.

Combining comedy and political action – a tactic experts call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of American protest in this period, adopted by various groups.

A specific icon has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It began after video footage of a clash between an individual in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in the city of Portland, went viral. It subsequently appeared to protests throughout the United States.

"A great deal at play with that little inflatable frog," notes LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on creative activism.

From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to discuss protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by online communities during a previous presidential campaign.

When the character first took off online, its purpose was to convey certain emotions. Later, its use evolved to express backing for a candidate, including one notable meme retweeted by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a hate group member. Users traded "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used an inside joke.

However its beginnings were not so controversial.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has been vocal about his distaste for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

Pepe debuted in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his creation, he stated his drawing came from his time with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work 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 online spaces, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that creators cannot own imagery," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be repurposed."

For a long time, the association of this meme resulted in amphibian imagery became a symbol for the right. This shifted in early October, when a viral moment between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

This incident came just days after a decision to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was called "a warzone". Protesters began to congregate at a specific location, just outside of an ICE office.

The situation was tense and a officer deployed a chemical agent at the individual, targeting the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The protester, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, stating he had tasted "something milder". However, the video spread everywhere.

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

The costume was also referenced in a lawsuit between the administration and Portland, which contended the deployment overstepped authority.

While the court ruled in October that the administration had the right to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion the protesters' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes when expressing opposition."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber opined. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was stopped legally just a month later, and troops are said to have left the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had transformed into a potent protest icon for the left.

The costume was seen nationwide at No Kings protests that fall. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

This item was sold out on major websites, and rose in price.

Mastering the Optics

The link between the two amphibian symbols – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" act that draws focus to a cause without needing directly articulating them. It's the unusual prop used, or the meme circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The purpose of such tactics is multi-faceted, he says.

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