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

Additionally, it could include the horn of a unicorn or a chicken's feathers.

As demonstrations opposing the government carry on in US cities, demonstrators are utilizing the spirit of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've offered salsa lessons, given away snacks, and performed on unicycles, while police observe.

Mixing comedy and politics – an approach researchers call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in this period, adopted by various groups.

And one symbol has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It began when video footage of a clash between an individual in a frog suit and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. It subsequently appeared to rallies throughout the United States.

"There's a lot going on with that little blow-up amphibian," notes an expert, a professor at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies creative activism.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to examine protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by far-right groups throughout an election cycle.

As the meme initially spread online, its purpose was to express certain emotions. Afterwards, its use evolved to show support for a candidate, including a particular image retweeted by that figure himself, portraying the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users traded "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became a shared phrase.

Yet the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Its creator, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for its appropriation. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in his series.

The frog debuted in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he said his drawing came from his experiences with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that we don't control imagery," says the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Until recently, the association of this meme resulted in frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. A transformation occurred in early October, when an incident between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

This incident occurred shortly after an order to send military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, near an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an agent sprayed pepper spray at the individual, directing it into the opening of the puffy frog costume.

The protester, the man in the costume, quipped, saying he had tasted "spicier tamales". However, the video spread everywhere.

The frog suit was not too unusual for the city, famous for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and the city, which argued the deployment was illegal.

While the court ruled that month that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes when expressing their disagreement."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," she stated. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The order was halted by courts subsequently, and troops are said to have left the area.

Yet already, the frog had transformed into a powerful anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit appeared across the country at No Kings protests that fall. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was in high demand on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Optics

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the relationship between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that calls attention to a cause without explicitly stating them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a book on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

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

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