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The protest movement won't be televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

As demonstrations opposing the government continue in American cities, demonstrators have embraced the vibe of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, as officers watch.

Blending comedy and politics – an approach experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of American protest in recent years, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It began when a video of a confrontation between a man in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, went viral. And it has since spread to rallies across the country.

"A great deal going on with that small blow-up amphibian," says an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on performance art.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by extremist movements throughout a previous presidential campaign.

When this image gained popularity online, it was used to express specific feelings. Subsequently, it was deployed to endorse a political figure, including a particular image endorsed by the candidate personally, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in offensive ways, as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used a coded signal.

Yet the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Its creator, the illustrator, has expressed about his distaste for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

This character first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his creation, he stated the character was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

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

Previously, the association of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. A transformation occurred in early October, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

The moment occurred shortly after a directive to deploy military personnel to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, near an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and an agent deployed pepper spray at the individual, aiming directly into the ventilation of the costume.

The individual, the man in the costume, quipped, stating it tasted like "something milder". But the incident spread everywhere.

The costume fit right in for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that embrace the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume became part of in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and the city, which contended the deployment overstepped authority.

Although the court ruled in October that the president had the right to send personnel, one judge dissented, mentioning demonstrators' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire while voicing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge wrote. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The action was halted by courts subsequently, and troops withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the frog had become a potent anti-administration symbol for the left.

This symbol was spotted nationwide at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – 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 saw its cost increase.

Shaping the Optics

What connects both frogs together – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that calls attention to a cause without explicitly stating them. This is the unusual prop used, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

The idea of this approach is three-fold, he says.

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