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The resistance may not be broadcast, but it could have amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

It also might feature the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

As demonstrations opposing the leadership continue in American cities, protesters are utilizing the vibe of a community costume parade. They've provided dance instruction, handed out snacks, and performed on unicycles, as police look on.

Blending comedy and politics – an approach researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of American protest in recent years, adopted by both left and right.

A specific icon has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It originated after video footage of a clash between a protester in an inflatable frog and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations throughout the United States.

"There is much going on with that humble frog costume," states a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

The Path From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by extremist movements throughout a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the meme initially spread on the internet, it was used to convey specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to express backing for a candidate, even one notable meme shared by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in offensive ways, as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was used an inside joke.

Yet its beginnings were not as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his distaste for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

This character debuted in an online comic in 2005 – non-political and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he said the character came from his life with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to early internet platforms, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows the lack of control over symbols," explains Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the association of this meme resulted in amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to conservative politics. This shifted recently, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

This incident came just days after a decision to send the National Guard to the city, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, near an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer deployed irritant at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The protester, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, remarking it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage went viral.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel in the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the use of troops was unlawful.

While the court ruled in October that the president had the right to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for using unusual attire when expressing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

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

Yet already, the frog had transformed into a powerful protest icon for the left.

The costume appeared across the country at No Kings protests recently. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

The frog costume was in high demand on major websites, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Optics

What brings both frogs together – lies in the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "disarming and charming" act that draws focus to a cause without obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit used, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

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