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This protest movement may not be televised, but it could have webbed feet 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 US cities, protesters are utilizing the vibe of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, as officers look on.

Combining comedy and politics – a tactic researchers term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of US demonstrations in recent years, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It started after video footage of a clash between a protester in an inflatable frog and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, went viral. And it has since spread to protests nationwide.

"There is much going on with that little inflatable frog," states a professor, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It's challenging to examine demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by online communities throughout an election cycle.

Initially, when the character gained popularity online, people used it to convey specific feelings. Later, its use evolved to show support for a political figure, even one notable meme endorsed by that figure himself, depicting the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, as a hate group member. Users traded "unique frog images" and set up digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was deployed a coded signal.

But the character did not originate this divisive.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his distaste for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

The frog debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and best known for a quirky behavior. A film, which follows the creator's attempt to take back of his work, he stated the character was inspired by his time with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to new websites, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into darker parts of the internet, Mr Furie sought to reject the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that we don't control symbols," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be repurposed."

For a long time, the association of Pepe meant that frogs were predominantly linked to the right. This shifted in early October, when a confrontation between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The event came just days after a decision to send military personnel to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Protesters began to congregate outside a facility, near a federal building.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer sprayed pepper spray at the individual, aiming directly into the ventilation of the puffy frog costume.

The protester, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, remarking he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage became a sensation.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for the city, famous for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that delight in the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and the city, which argued the deployment was illegal.

While the court ruled in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, mentioning demonstrators' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes while voicing their disagreement."

"Some might view this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber stated. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was halted by courts soon after, and troops are said to have left the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had become a significant anti-administration symbol for the left.

This symbol was spotted across the country at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

This item was sold out on major websites, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Narrative

What brings both frogs together – lies in the relationship between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that draws focus to a message without needing directly articulating them. It's the unusual prop used, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a text on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

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

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