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This protest movement won't be broadcast, yet it might possess webbed feet and large eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations opposing the leadership carry on in American cities, demonstrators are adopting the vibe of a community costume parade. They have taught dance instruction, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, as officers observe.

Blending humour and political action – a strategy experts term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a defining feature of US demonstrations in recent years, embraced by various groups.

One particular emblem has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It started when a video of a clash between a protester in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations throughout the United States.

"A great deal going on with that humble inflatable frog," states LM Bogad, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on performance art.

The Path From Pepe to Portland

It is difficult to examine protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by extremist movements throughout a political race.

Initially, when the character first took off online, it was used to signal certain emotions. Subsequently, it was deployed to show support for a candidate, even a particular image endorsed by the candidate himself, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed an inside joke.

However the character did not originate as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his disapproval for its co-option. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

The frog debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and best known for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he explained the character was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

As he started out, the artist tried sharing his art to new websites, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As its popularity grew into darker parts of the internet, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves the lack of control over imagery," explains Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

Previously, the association of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery became a symbol for conservative politics. A transformation occurred recently, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The moment came just days after a decision to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was called "a warzone". Activists began to gather in droves on a single block, near a federal building.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer used a chemical agent at a protester, targeting the opening of the inflatable suit.

The individual, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, remarking it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for the city, renowned for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that embrace the absurd – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume even played a role in a lawsuit between the federal government and Portland, which argued the deployment was unlawful.

Although a judge decided that month that the president had the right to deploy troops, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion the protesters' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire while voicing dissent."

"It is easy to see the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The deployment was stopped legally soon after, and personnel are said to have left the city.

But by then, the frog was now a potent protest icon for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit 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.

This item was sold out on major websites, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Narrative

What connects both frogs together – lies in the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" act that draws focus to a cause without needing obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

As protesters take on a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences