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The protest movement isn't broadcast, though it may feature amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

While rallies opposing the administration continue in American cities, protesters are utilizing the vibe of a community costume parade. They've offered salsa lessons, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, while police watch.

Combining levity and political action – a strategy researchers term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a hallmark of protests in the United States in the current era, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It began after a video of a confrontation between a man in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations across the country.

"A great deal going on with that little inflatable frog," notes an expert, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It's challenging to examine protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by online communities throughout an election cycle.

As the character initially spread online, its purpose was to convey certain emotions. Subsequently, it was utilized to show support for a political figure, even a particular image retweeted by that figure personally, depicting the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and established digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used an inside joke.

Yet its beginnings were not as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has expressed about his distaste for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

This character first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – non-political and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he said the character came from his life with companions.

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 its popularity grew into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows the lack of control over symbols," explains the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

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

The moment occurred shortly after a decision to send military personnel to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Protesters began to gather in droves on a single block, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and a officer deployed a chemical agent at the individual, aiming directly into the air intake fan of the puffy frog costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, quipped, stating it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

The frog suit fit right in for Portland, renowned for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume was also referenced in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which contended the use of troops was illegal.

While the court ruled that month that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning the protesters' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," she stated. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

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

But by then, the amphibian costume had transformed into a powerful protest icon for the left.

The inflatable suit was spotted across the country at No Kings protests that fall. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was backordered on major websites, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Narrative

What brings both frogs together – is the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that calls attention to your ideas without explicitly stating them. This is the silly outfit used, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He authored a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The purpose of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad says.

As protesters confront authority, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences