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

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

Whilst rallies opposing the government continue in US cities, demonstrators are adopting the spirit of a community costume parade. They have taught dance instruction, given away snacks, and performed on unicycles, while armed law enforcement watch.

Blending comedy and political action – a tactic social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of protests in the United States in recent years, used by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It began after a video of a confrontation between an individual in an amphibian costume and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, went viral. From there, it proliferated to protests across the country.

"There's a lot at play with that small inflatable frog," states LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who studies creative activism.

From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It is difficult to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog co-opted by online communities throughout a political race.

When the character initially spread online, people used it to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, it was utilized to show support for a political figure, including one notable meme shared by the candidate himself, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in offensive ways, as a hate group member. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was used an inside joke.

But its beginnings were not this divisive.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his unhappiness for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

Pepe debuted in an online comic in 2005 – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his work, he stated his drawing came from his life with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to the nascent social web, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. When the meme proliferated into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator sought to reject his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that we don't control symbols," explains the professor. "They transform and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the notoriety of this meme meant that amphibian imagery became a symbol for conservative politics. This shifted on a day in October, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

This incident came just days after a decision to send the National Guard to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to congregate on a single block, near an ICE office.

Tensions were high and an agent deployed irritant at the individual, aiming directly into the ventilation of the puffy frog costume.

The individual, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, saying he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage went viral.

The frog suit was not too unusual for the city, known for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that embrace the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which argued the use of troops overstepped authority.

While a ruling was issued in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion the protesters' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits when expressing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge wrote. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The action was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and troops have reportedly departed the city.

Yet already, the amphibian costume was now a powerful anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The costume was seen in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Optics

What connects the two amphibian symbols – lies in the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it acts as a "disarming and charming" performance that highlights your ideas without needing explicitly stating them. This is the silly outfit used, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He authored a text on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

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

As activists take on a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences