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The protest movement may not be televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and large eyes.

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

Whilst rallies opposing the government persist in US cities, protesters are utilizing the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided salsa lessons, handed out treats, and performed on unicycles, while officers observe.

Mixing comedy and political action – an approach social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a hallmark of protests in the United States in the current era, adopted by both left and right.

And one symbol has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It started when recordings of a clash between an individual in a frog suit and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to rallies nationwide.

"There is much at play with that humble blow-up amphibian," says LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies creative activism.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by online communities throughout a political race.

As this image first took off online, people used it to convey specific feelings. Later, its use evolved to show support for a candidate, including one notable meme retweeted by that figure personally, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", became an inside joke.

However its beginnings were not this divisive.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for its appropriation. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

Pepe first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he said the character was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that we don't control imagery," explains Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the association of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery became a symbol for the right. This shifted recently, when an incident between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland went viral.

This incident came just days after an order to send the National Guard to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to congregate at a specific location, just outside of a federal building.

Tensions were high and a officer used irritant at a protester, directing it into the opening of the puffy frog costume.

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

The frog suit fit right in for the city, known for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that delight in the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and the city, which argued the use of troops overstepped authority.

Although the court ruled that month that the president had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes while voicing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber stated. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The deployment was halted by courts just a month later, and personnel withdrew from the city.

Yet already, the frog was now a potent symbol of resistance for the left.

The costume was seen across the country at No Kings protests recently. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

This item was in high demand on online retailers, and rose in price.

Shaping the Visual Story

What connects the two amphibian symbols – is the relationship between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy is based on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that calls attention to a message without needing obviously explaining them. It's the goofy costume used, or the meme circulated.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

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