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This resistance isn't broadcast, though it may feature amphibious toes and large eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

As rallies against the leadership continue in American cities, participants have embraced the energy of a local block party. They have taught dance instruction, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement look on.

Blending levity and politics – an approach social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in recent years, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It began when recordings of a confrontation between a man in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. It subsequently appeared to protests throughout the United States.

"There's a lot happening with that little blow-up amphibian," notes a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in creative activism.

From Pepe to Portland

It is difficult to examine protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by far-right groups during an election cycle.

Initially, when this image gained popularity on the internet, its purpose was to convey specific feelings. Subsequently, its use evolved to endorse a candidate, even one notable meme endorsed by that figure personally, depicting the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants traded "unique frog images" and established digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was deployed a shared phrase.

But its beginnings were not this divisive.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his unhappiness for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

Pepe first appeared in comic strips in 2005 – non-political and best known for a quirky behavior. A film, which follows Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his work, he stated the character came from his experiences with friends and roommates.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to new websites, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over icons," states the professor. "They transform and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the notoriety of Pepe meant that frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. This shifted in early October, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The moment occurred shortly after a decision to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, near a federal building.

The situation was tense and a officer sprayed a chemical agent at the individual, targeting the ventilation of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, quipped, stating he had tasted "something milder". However, the video went viral.

The costume fit right in for the city, renowned for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that delight in the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog became part of in a lawsuit between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the deployment was illegal.

While a judge decided in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes when expressing opposition."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge opined. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The order was stopped legally soon after, and troops withdrew from the area.

Yet already, the amphibian costume was now a powerful symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The costume was seen nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

This item was in high demand on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Narrative

What connects both frogs together – lies in the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy is based on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "disarming and charming" act that calls attention to a cause without needing directly articulating them. It's the goofy costume you wear, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a book on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

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

As activists confront a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences