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This protest movement won't be televised, though it may feature webbed feet and large eyes.

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

While protests opposing the leadership persist in US cities, demonstrators are utilizing the vibe of a local block party. They have taught salsa lessons, distributed snacks, and ridden unicycles, as police watch.

Combining humour and political action – an approach experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of American protest in the current era, adopted by both left and right.

One particular emblem has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It originated when video footage of a confrontation between a man in a frog suit and ICE agents in the city of Portland, went viral. And it has since spread to protests throughout the United States.

"There's a lot happening with that humble inflatable frog," notes LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by online communities throughout a previous presidential campaign.

When the meme initially spread online, its purpose was to signal specific feelings. Afterwards, its use evolved to express backing for a candidate, including a particular image retweeted by the candidate himself, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Online conservatives traded "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed an inside joke.

But Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his unhappiness for its co-option. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

The frog debuted in an online comic in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to take back of his work, he stated the character was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

As he started out, the artist tried sharing his art to the nascent social web, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into darker parts of the internet, the creator sought to reject his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that creators cannot own icons," states the professor. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

Until recently, the association of this meme resulted in amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. But that changed in early October, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

This incident came just days after a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "a warzone". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, just outside of a federal building.

Emotions ran high and an agent deployed irritant at the individual, targeting the opening of the inflatable suit.

The individual, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, stating it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident became a sensation.

The frog suit was not too unusual for Portland, renowned for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that embrace the absurd – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which claimed the deployment was illegal.

Although the court ruled in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning the protesters' "known tendency for using unusual attire while voicing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," she wrote. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The action was halted by courts just a month later, and personnel are said to have left the area.

But by then, the frog had transformed into a potent anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The costume was seen in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was sold out on online retailers, and rose in price.

Mastering the Narrative

What brings the two amphibian symbols – is the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" display that highlights your ideas without directly articulating them. It's the goofy costume you wear, or the meme circulated.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

The purpose of such tactics is three-fold, Mr Bogad says.

As activists take on authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences