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This protest movement isn't televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

As protests opposing the leadership continue in American cities, protesters have embraced the spirit of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement watch.

Blending comedy and politics – an approach social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of protests in the United States in recent years, used by both left and right.

A specific icon has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It originated after recordings of a confrontation between a man in an amphibian costume and federal officers in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to protests throughout the United States.

"A great deal happening with that little blow-up amphibian," states LM Bogad, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in creative activism.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

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

Initially, when this image first took off online, it was used to express certain emotions. Later, it was deployed to endorse a candidate, including a particular image endorsed by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", became a shared phrase.

Yet its beginnings were not this divisive.

Its creator, the illustrator, has been vocal about his disapproval for its appropriation. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

The frog debuted in an online comic in 2005 – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his work, he stated his drawing came from his experiences with friends and roommates.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to new websites, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into darker parts of the internet, the creator attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates that we don't control symbols," explains the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Until recently, the popularity of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery became a symbol for the right. This shifted recently, when an incident between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland went viral.

This incident followed an order to send the National Guard to the city, which was described as "a warzone". Protesters began to gather in droves at a specific location, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer sprayed pepper spray at a protester, aiming directly into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The individual, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, stating he had tasted "something milder". Yet the footage went viral.

The costume was somewhat typical for the city, renowned for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that delight in the absurd – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and Portland, which argued the use of troops overstepped authority.

Although the court ruled in October that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning the protesters' "propensity for using unusual attire while voicing opposition."

"Some might view this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," she opined. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The action was "permanently" blocked soon after, and troops are said to have left the area.

But by then, the amphibian costume had transformed into a significant symbol of resistance for the left.

This symbol was spotted nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was backordered on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Optics

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that draws focus to your ideas without directly articulating them. This is the silly outfit used, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The purpose of such tactics is multi-faceted, he says.

When activists take on a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences