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The protest movement may not be broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

As rallies opposing the leadership carry on in US cities, protesters are utilizing the spirit of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided salsa lessons, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, as police look on.

Combining humour and politics – a strategy researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a defining feature of US demonstrations in the current era, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It originated after a video of an encounter between an individual in a frog suit and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, spread online. And it has since spread to demonstrations throughout the United States.

"A great deal at play with that small frog costume," says a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who studies creative activism.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to discuss protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by online communities throughout an election cycle.

When this image initially spread online, it was used to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, its use evolved to express backing for a candidate, even a particular image retweeted by the candidate himself, portraying the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users traded "unique frog images" and established digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a coded signal.

But its beginnings were not so controversial.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his disapproval for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

Pepe first appeared in comic strips in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he stated the character came from his time with companions.

As he started out, the artist experimented with uploading his work to the nascent social web, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of the internet, the creator sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows the lack of control over icons," states the professor. "They transform and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the association of Pepe meant that frogs were predominantly linked to the right. A transformation occurred in early October, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

The moment occurred shortly after a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to gather in droves at a specific location, just outside of an ICE office.

Tensions were high and an agent used pepper spray at the individual, targeting the opening of the costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, quipped, saying he had tasted "something milder". But the incident went viral.

The frog suit fit right in for Portland, renowned for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in a lawsuit between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the use of troops overstepped authority.

Although a judge decided in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber stated. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was halted by courts just a month later, and personnel have reportedly departed the city.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume was now a potent anti-administration symbol for the left.

The inflatable suit appeared nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on online retailers, and rose in price.

Controlling the Narrative

What connects both frogs together – lies in the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that draws focus to a message without explicitly stating them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and an experienced participant. He authored a book on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

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