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The protest movement won't be televised, yet it might possess amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

While protests opposing the administration carry on in US cities, participants have embraced the energy of a community costume parade. They've provided dance instruction, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, as police observe.

Combining comedy and politics – an approach researchers term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of protests in the United States in recent years, embraced by both left and right.

A specific icon has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It started when a video of a confrontation between an individual in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations nationwide.

"There's a lot going on with that small inflatable frog," says a professor, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies political performance.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

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

Initially, when the meme gained popularity on the internet, people used it to convey specific feelings. Afterwards, its use evolved to express backing for a political figure, including one notable meme shared by the candidate personally, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in darker contexts, portrayed as a hate group member. Users traded "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became a coded signal.

Yet the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in his series.

This character debuted in comic strips in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which follows Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he said the character came from his life with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to new websites, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that we don't control icons," explains the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

For a long time, the association of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery became a symbol for the right. But that changed on a day in October, when a confrontation between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

The moment followed an order to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, near a federal building.

The situation was tense and a officer used pepper spray at the individual, aiming directly into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The protester, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, remarking it tasted like "something milder". However, the video went viral.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for the city, famous for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that delight in the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and the city, which contended the use of troops was unlawful.

Although the court ruled in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes while voicing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," she wrote. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The action was halted by courts subsequently, and troops withdrew from the area.

However, by that time, the frog was now a powerful symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

This symbol appeared across the country at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was in high demand on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Visual Story

What brings both frogs together – is the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that draws focus to your ideas without obviously explaining them. It's the unusual prop used, or the symbol circulated.

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

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The idea of such tactics is multi-faceted, he explains.

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