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The protest movement may not be broadcast, but it could have amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

As rallies opposing the leadership carry on in American cities, protesters are utilizing the spirit of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided dance instruction, handed out snacks, and performed on unicycles, while officers watch.

Combining humour and politics – a strategy social scientists refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of protests in the United States in the current era, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It originated after a video of a clash between a man in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, went viral. It subsequently appeared to rallies throughout the United States.

"There is much going on with that small frog costume," says an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by extremist movements throughout a political race.

When this image first took off online, people used it to convey specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to express backing for a political figure, including a particular image retweeted by the candidate personally, depicting the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, as a hate group member. Users traded "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became a shared phrase.

Yet its beginnings were not this divisive.

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

The frog first appeared in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a quirky behavior. A film, which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he said his drawing came from his experiences with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of the internet, the creator sought to reject his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own imagery," states the professor. "They can change and shift and be reworked."

Previously, the notoriety of Pepe resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. But that changed in early October, when an incident between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

The event occurred shortly after an order to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, near an ICE office.

The situation was tense and an agent deployed pepper spray at the individual, aiming directly into the opening of the costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage went viral.

The costume was not too unusual for Portland, renowned for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that delight in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which claimed the deployment was unlawful.

While the court ruled that month that the president had the right to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning the protesters' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire while voicing dissent."

"It is easy to see this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber stated. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

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

Yet already, the frog was now a powerful symbol of resistance for the left.

This symbol was seen nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was backordered on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Visual Story

The link between Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the relationship between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that highlights your ideas without needing directly articulating them. This is the goofy costume you wear, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

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

When activists confront a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences