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This protest movement isn't broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and bulging eyes.

Additionally, it could include the horn of a unicorn or a chicken's feathers.

While demonstrations opposing the government carry on in US cities, participants have embraced the vibe of a local block party. They have taught salsa lessons, distributed snacks, and ridden unicycles, as police look on.

Mixing humour and political action – a tactic social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in the current era, embraced by various groups.

A specific icon has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It originated after video footage of a confrontation between a protester in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in the city of Portland, went viral. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations nationwide.

"There is much happening with that little frog costume," says an expert, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies creative activism.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to talk about protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by extremist movements during an election cycle.

As this image initially spread on the internet, it was used to express specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to endorse a political figure, including one notable meme retweeted by the candidate personally, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed a shared phrase.

But its beginnings were not this divisive.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his disapproval for its appropriation. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

This character first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his work, he explained his drawing came from his time with companions.

When he began, the artist tried uploading his work to new websites, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over imagery," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be repurposed."

Previously, the association of this meme resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. A transformation occurred recently, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland captured global attention.

The event occurred shortly after an order to send military personnel to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to congregate at a specific location, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer sprayed pepper spray at a protester, targeting the opening of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, remarking he had tasted "spicier tamales". But the incident spread everywhere.

The frog suit fit right in for the city, famous for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that revel in the unusual – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in a lawsuit between the administration and Portland, which claimed the use of troops was illegal.

While the court ruled that month that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, one judge dissented, mentioning the protesters' "propensity for using unusual attire when expressing dissent."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber stated. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

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

Yet already, the frog had become a significant symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

This symbol was spotted nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was sold out on online retailers, and rose in price.

Mastering the Narrative

The link between both frogs together – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" display that calls attention to your ideas without directly articulating them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

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

The purpose of this approach is three-fold, he explains.

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