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The protest movement isn't televised, but it could have webbed feet and protruding eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve the horn of a unicorn or a chicken's feathers.

As protests opposing the administration carry on in US cities, demonstrators are utilizing the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided salsa lessons, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, as police observe.

Combining comedy and politics – an approach experts term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in this period, used by various groups.

A specific icon has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It started when recordings of an encounter between an individual in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations across the country.

"There's a lot at play with that small frog costume," notes a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on creative activism.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by extremist movements throughout an election cycle.

As the meme gained popularity online, its purpose was to convey certain emotions. Subsequently, its use evolved to show support for a political figure, even one notable meme retweeted by that figure personally, portraying the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in darker contexts, portrayed as a hate group member. Users exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed a coded signal.

Yet the character did not originate this divisive.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

Pepe debuted in comic strips in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which follows the creator's attempt to take back of his work, he explained his drawing was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

As he started out, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to early internet platforms, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. When the meme proliferated into the more extreme corners of the internet, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over icons," explains the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be reworked."

For a long time, the notoriety of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery became a symbol for conservative politics. But that changed recently, when a viral moment between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The event came just days after an order to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to congregate outside a facility, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Tensions were high and a officer sprayed pepper spray at a protester, targeting the opening of the costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". However, the video became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, known for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that delight in the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which contended the use of troops was unlawful.

Although a ruling was issued that month that the president had the right to deploy troops, one judge dissented, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits when expressing opposition."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," she stated. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and personnel are said to have left the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume was now a significant protest icon for progressive movements.

The costume was spotted across the country at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Visual Story

What connects the two amphibian symbols – lies in the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that calls attention to your ideas without needing explicitly stating them. This is the unusual prop you wear, or the meme you share.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The purpose of such tactics is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

When protesters confront a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences