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This resistance isn't broadcast, but it could have webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

As protests against the leadership carry on in US cities, demonstrators are utilizing the spirit of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided dance instruction, handed out snacks, and performed on unicycles, while officers observe.

Blending levity and political action – a tactic social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in the current era, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It originated after recordings of a clash between a man in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to protests across the country.

"There is much happening with that small frog costume," states a professor, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies political performance.

From Pepe to Portland

It's hard to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by extremist movements during a previous presidential campaign.

As the character first took off on the internet, people used it to express certain emotions. Subsequently, its use evolved to show support for a candidate, even a particular image endorsed by that figure personally, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants traded "unique frog images" and set up digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed a shared phrase.

Yet its beginnings were not this divisive.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his unhappiness for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in his comic world.

This character debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he said his drawing was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that creators cannot own symbols," says Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

Previously, the association of Pepe meant that frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. A transformation occurred in early October, when an incident between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

The moment occurred shortly after an order to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, near an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and a officer deployed pepper spray at a protester, targeting the opening of the puffy frog costume.

The individual, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, stating he had tasted "something milder". But the incident spread everywhere.

The costume was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that embrace the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

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

Although a judge decided in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes while voicing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," she opined. "But today's decision has serious implications."

The action was stopped legally just a month later, and troops have reportedly departed the city.

But by then, the frog had become a significant protest icon for progressive movements.

The costume was spotted across the country at No Kings protests recently. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on major websites, and rose in price.

Shaping the Visual Story

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that highlights your ideas without obviously explaining them. This is the unusual prop used, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and still have plausible deniability."

The theory of this approach is multi-faceted, he explains.

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