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The protest movement won't be televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

Whilst protests against the government continue in US cities, participants are utilizing the spirit of a local block party. They have taught dance instruction, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, as officers watch.

Mixing comedy and political action – a strategy experts term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a defining feature of American protest in this period, adopted by various groups.

And one symbol has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It originated after recordings of a confrontation between an individual in an inflatable frog and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. It subsequently appeared to rallies nationwide.

"There's a lot happening with that humble frog costume," notes an expert, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on creative activism.

From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by online communities throughout a political race.

As the meme first took off online, people used it to express certain emotions. Subsequently, its use evolved to endorse a candidate, including a particular image endorsed by the candidate personally, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in darker contexts, as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and set up digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was used a coded signal.

Yet the character did not originate so controversial.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

This character debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and best known for a particular bathroom habit. A film, which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he stated the character came from his time with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to new websites, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of the internet, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that creators cannot own imagery," says the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

For a long time, the association of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with the right. This shifted recently, when a confrontation between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon went viral.

The event occurred shortly after a decision to send the National Guard to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Tensions were high and an agent deployed irritant at the individual, directing it into the opening of the costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, quipped, remarking he had tasted "something milder". But the incident became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for Portland, known for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that delight in the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which argued the deployment overstepped authority.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes when expressing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge opined. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The action was stopped legally just a month later, and personnel are said to have left the area.

Yet already, the frog was now a powerful anti-administration symbol for the left.

The inflatable suit appeared nationwide at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

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

Mastering the Narrative

What connects both frogs together – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights a cause without obviously explaining them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the meme you share.

The professor is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

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

As protesters confront a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences