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This resistance may not be broadcast, yet it might possess webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

As protests opposing the leadership carry on in American cities, demonstrators are adopting the spirit of a local block party. They've provided dance instruction, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, as police observe.

Mixing comedy and politics – a tactic social scientists refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in the current era, embraced by various groups.

A specific icon has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It started when recordings of an encounter between an individual in an amphibian costume and federal officers in the city of Portland, spread online. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations across the country.

"There is much going on with that little inflatable frog," says a professor, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who specialises in political performance.

From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by extremist movements during a previous presidential campaign.

When the character first took off online, it was used to signal certain emotions. Afterwards, it was utilized to show support for a candidate, including one notable meme retweeted by that figure himself, showing the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a historical dictator. Online conservatives exchanged "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was used a shared phrase.

Yet its beginnings were not this divisive.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his disapproval for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his work, he said the character came from his experiences with companions.

Early in his career, the artist tried sharing his art to the nascent social web, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of the internet, the creator tried to disavow his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own icons," says Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reworked."

Until recently, the popularity of this meme resulted in amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. A transformation occurred recently, when a confrontation between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland spread rapidly online.

This incident occurred shortly after an order to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to gather in droves on a single block, just outside of a federal building.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer deployed a chemical agent at the individual, aiming directly into the opening of the costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, quipped, remarking he had tasted "something milder". Yet the footage went viral.

The frog suit fit right in for Portland, famous for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that revel in the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which contended the deployment was illegal.

While a ruling was issued that month that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning demonstrators' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes while voicing opposition."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "However, this ruling is not merely absurd."

The order was "permanently" blocked just a month later, and personnel withdrew from the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume was now a significant anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The costume appeared in many cities 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 big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on major websites, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Narrative

What connects the two amphibian symbols – lies in the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" act that draws focus to a message without needing directly articulating them. It's the unusual prop used, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a text on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, he explains.

When protesters confront a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences