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The protest movement isn't broadcast, yet it might possess webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

While demonstrations opposing the leadership continue in US cities, demonstrators have embraced the spirit of a community costume parade. They have taught dance instruction, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, while officers observe.

Blending comedy and politics – a strategy researchers term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a defining feature of US demonstrations in recent years, used by both left and right.

A specific icon has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It originated when a video of an encounter between a protester in an amphibian costume and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, went viral. And it has since spread to demonstrations nationwide.

"There is much going on with that small blow-up amphibian," states LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in performance art.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to discuss protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by online communities during a previous presidential campaign.

As this image initially spread on the internet, people used it to signal specific feelings. Subsequently, its use evolved to endorse a political figure, including a particular image retweeted by the candidate personally, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants traded "unique frog images" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

But the character did not originate this divisive.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his unhappiness for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

This character debuted in an online comic in 2005 – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. A film, which follows the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he explained his drawing was inspired by his life with companions.

Early in his career, the artist tried sharing his art to new websites, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of online spaces, the creator tried to disavow the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It shows the lack of control over symbols," states Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reworked."

Previously, the association of this meme meant that frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. This shifted on a day in October, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

This incident came just days after an order to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to gather in droves at a specific location, near an ICE office.

The situation was tense and an agent deployed a chemical agent at the individual, directing it into the air intake fan of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". However, the video became a sensation.

The costume fit right in for the city, famous for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that revel in the absurd – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which argued the deployment overstepped authority.

While a judge decided that month that the president was within its rights to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits while voicing their disagreement."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which adopts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge stated. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked soon after, and troops withdrew from the area.

But by then, the amphibian costume had transformed into a significant anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The costume was seen nationwide at No Kings protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

This item was in high demand on major websites, and rose in price.

Shaping the Optics

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that highlights a cause without directly articulating them. It's the unusual prop used, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He authored a book on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

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

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

As activists confront authority, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences