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The protest movement may not be broadcast, yet it might possess webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations against the leadership continue in US cities, participants have embraced the spirit of a community costume parade. They've offered dance instruction, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, as police observe.

Blending humour and political action – an approach social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of protests in the United States in this period, adopted by various groups.

One particular emblem has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It began after video footage of an encounter between a protester in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, spread online. From there, it proliferated to protests across the country.

"There is much happening with that humble blow-up amphibian," states LM Bogad, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in creative activism.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by far-right groups throughout a previous presidential campaign.

As the meme first took off on the internet, people used it to express specific feelings. Subsequently, it was utilized to show support for a political figure, including a particular image endorsed by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

But Pepe didn't start out as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his unhappiness for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

This character debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and famous for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which follows Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his creation, he said his drawing was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist experimented with uploading his work to new websites, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of the internet, the creator sought to reject the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves that creators cannot own symbols," explains Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the popularity of Pepe meant that frogs became a symbol for the right. A transformation occurred in early October, when an incident between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

The event came just days after a decision to send military personnel to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, near an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and a officer used a chemical agent at the individual, directing it into the opening of the puffy frog costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for Portland, renowned for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that delight in the ridiculous – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which argued the use of troops overstepped authority.

While a judge decided in October that the president had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire while voicing dissent."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "However, this ruling is not merely absurd."

The order was "permanently" blocked soon after, and troops are said to have left the area.

However, by that time, the frog had transformed into a powerful symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was seen nationwide at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on major websites, and rose in price.

Controlling the Visual Story

What brings the two amphibian symbols – lies in the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" display that highlights a cause without needing explicitly stating them. It's the goofy costume you wear, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

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

The purpose of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad says.

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