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The protest movement isn't broadcast, but it could have webbed feet and large eyes.

Additionally, it could include a unicorn's horn or the plumage of a chicken.

As demonstrations opposing the government persist in American cities, participants are utilizing the spirit of a community costume parade. They've provided dance instruction, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, as armed law enforcement watch.

Mixing humour and politics – a strategy researchers term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a hallmark of American protest in the current era, used by various groups.

And one symbol has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It started when recordings of a clash between an individual in an inflatable frog and federal officers in the city of Portland, went viral. And it has since spread to rallies across the country.

"There's a lot at play with that small blow-up amphibian," says a professor, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in performance art.

The Path From Pepe to Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a web comic frog embraced by extremist movements throughout a political race.

As this image first took off on the internet, people used it to express certain emotions. Afterwards, it was deployed to show support for a political figure, including a particular image shared by that figure himself, portraying the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, portrayed as a hate group member. Users traded "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

However the character did not originate this divisive.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has been vocal about his distaste for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he explained his drawing was inspired by his time with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator tried to disavow his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that we don't control symbols," states Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Previously, the association of this meme resulted in frogs were largely associated with the right. But that changed in early October, when a viral moment between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

The event followed a decision to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was described as "a warzone". Demonstrators began to congregate on a single block, near a federal building.

The situation was tense and a officer deployed a chemical agent at the individual, targeting the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The individual, Seth Todd, quipped, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for Portland, famous for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that embrace the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog became part of in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which contended the deployment was unlawful.

While a judge decided in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning demonstrators' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes while voicing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see the court's opinion, which adopts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," she stated. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The deployment was halted by courts subsequently, and personnel withdrew from the city.

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

This symbol was seen nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

This item was backordered on major websites, and rose in price.

Controlling the Optics

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that draws focus to a message without needing directly articulating them. This is the goofy costume you wear, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"You could go 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 says.

As activists take on authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences