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This protest movement may not be broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and protruding eyes.

It also might feature a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

While demonstrations opposing the government carry on in US cities, protesters are utilizing the spirit of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement watch.

Combining comedy and politics – a strategy researchers term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in recent years, adopted by both left and right.

A specific icon has risen to become particularly salient – the frog. It originated after a video of a confrontation between a protester in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. And it has since spread to protests nationwide.

"There's a lot happening with that small inflatable frog," says a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It is difficult to talk about protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by extremist movements during a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the meme gained popularity online, its purpose was to signal specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to endorse a political figure, even a particular image shared by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants traded "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

But Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has been vocal about his unhappiness for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in his comic world.

Pepe debuted in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and best known for a particular bathroom habit. A film, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he said the character was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to early internet platforms, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own icons," says Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reworked."

Until recently, the notoriety of this meme meant that frogs were largely associated with the right. But that changed in early October, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident followed a decision to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to gather in droves on a single block, near an ICE office.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer sprayed irritant at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". However, the video became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for the city, known for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that delight in the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which argued the deployment overstepped authority.

Although a judge decided in October that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge stated. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The action was halted by courts just a month later, and troops withdrew from the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had transformed into a powerful symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

This symbol was spotted nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

The frog costume was sold out on online retailers, and rose in price.

Controlling the Optics

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – 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 Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – often silly, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights a message without explicitly stating them. This is the unusual prop used, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

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

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