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The resistance isn't broadcast, yet it might possess webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

Whilst rallies opposing the government persist in US cities, demonstrators are adopting the vibe of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, as police look on.

Mixing humour and politics – an approach social scientists refer to as "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in this period, used by both left and right.

A specific icon has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It started after a video of a confrontation between an individual in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. It subsequently appeared to protests nationwide.

"There is much going on with that humble inflatable frog," says a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in political performance.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by online communities during a political race.

When the character first took off online, its purpose was to express certain emotions. Afterwards, it was utilized to express backing for a candidate, including one notable meme shared by that figure himself, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed a shared phrase.

But the character did not originate so controversial.

Its creator, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for its co-option. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

The frog debuted in an online comic in 2005 – non-political and best known for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he explained his drawing was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

When he began, the artist experimented with sharing his art to new websites, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of online spaces, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves the lack of control over symbols," states the professor. "They transform and be reworked."

Previously, the notoriety of Pepe resulted in frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. This shifted in early October, when a confrontation between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The moment occurred shortly after an order to send military personnel to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and an agent used irritant at the individual, targeting the air intake fan of the costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". But the incident went viral.

The costume was somewhat typical for Portland, famous for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that revel in the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

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

While the court ruled that month that the administration had the right to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire while voicing dissent."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge opined. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The order was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and personnel are said to have left the city.

Yet already, the frog had transformed into a powerful protest icon for the left.

This symbol appeared nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

The frog costume was backordered on major websites, and rose in price.

Controlling the Visual Story

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

The strategy is based on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it's a "disarming and charming" display that calls attention to a cause without needing directly articulating them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol you share.

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

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

The idea of this approach is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad says.

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