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The protest movement isn't televised, but it could have webbed feet and large eyes.

It also might feature the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

Whilst demonstrations against the leadership carry on in US cities, protesters are adopting the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've offered dance instruction, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, as officers watch.

Combining levity and political action – a tactic researchers term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in recent years, embraced by both left and right.

One particular emblem has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It began when video footage of a confrontation between a protester in a frog suit and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations nationwide.

"A great deal going on with that little blow-up amphibian," notes a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog adopted by online communities throughout a previous presidential campaign.

As the character initially spread on the internet, its purpose was to convey certain emotions. Subsequently, its use evolved to endorse a political figure, even a particular image endorsed by that figure himself, portraying Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in darker contexts, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants traded "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was deployed a shared phrase.

However Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for its co-option. 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 best known for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his work, he said his drawing came from his life with friends and roommates.

When he began, the artist tried uploading his work to the nascent social web, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves that creators cannot own icons," says the professor. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the notoriety of this meme resulted in amphibian imagery became a symbol for conservative politics. A transformation occurred on a day in October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

The event occurred shortly after a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to gather in droves at a specific location, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and a officer used a chemical agent at a protester, directing it into the opening of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, quipped, stating he had tasted "something milder". But the incident became a sensation.

The costume fit right in for the city, known for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that revel in the unusual – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which argued the deployment was illegal.

Although the court ruled in October that the president had the right to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for wearing chicken suits while voicing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber opined. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The action was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and troops have reportedly departed the area.

But by then, the amphibian costume was now a potent symbol of resistance for the left.

The costume was seen across the country at No Kings protests that fall. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Narrative

What connects both frogs together – lies in the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" act that calls attention to a cause without explicitly stating them. It's the silly outfit used, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The idea of such tactics is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad explains.

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