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The protest movement isn't televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

As protests against the leadership carry on in American cities, demonstrators have embraced the spirit of a community costume parade. They've offered salsa lessons, given away snacks, and performed on unicycles, as armed law enforcement watch.

Combining comedy and political action – a strategy researchers call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in recent years, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It began after video footage of a confrontation between a protester in a frog suit and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations nationwide.

"A great deal at play with that humble blow-up amphibian," states a professor, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

From Pepe to Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by far-right groups throughout a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when this image initially spread on the internet, it was used to convey certain emotions. Subsequently, it was deployed to endorse a political figure, including one notable meme shared by that figure personally, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, as a historical dictator. Users exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became an inside joke.

Yet the character did not originate this divisive.

Its creator, the illustrator, has expressed about his distaste for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

This character debuted in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his work, he said the character came from his time with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of online spaces, the creator tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over imagery," states Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reworked."

For a long time, the popularity of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery were largely associated with the right. But that changed on a day in October, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland went viral.

The moment came just days after a decision to send military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, just outside of an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer sprayed pepper spray at a protester, targeting the ventilation of the costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, saying he had tasted "something milder". However, the video spread everywhere.

The frog suit fit right in for Portland, known for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that delight in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which claimed the use of troops overstepped authority.

While the court ruled that month that the administration had the right to send personnel, one judge dissented, mentioning the protesters' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes when expressing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge stated. "But today's decision has serious implications."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked soon after, and personnel have reportedly departed the city.

However, by that time, the frog was now a significant protest icon for progressive movements.

This symbol was seen across the country at No Kings protests recently. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

This item was in high demand on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Shaping the Visual Story

What brings the two amphibian symbols – lies in the interplay between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that draws focus to your ideas without directly articulating them. It's the goofy costume you wear, or the symbol you share.

The professor is an analyst on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

As activists confront the state, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences