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The protest movement isn't televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

Additionally, it could include the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

As rallies opposing the administration continue in US cities, protesters have embraced the energy of a local block party. They have taught dance instruction, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, as police look on.

Combining humour and political action – an approach social scientists refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of US demonstrations in recent years, adopted by various groups.

One particular emblem has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It originated after video footage of an encounter between a protester in an amphibian costume and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, went viral. It subsequently appeared to protests nationwide.

"There's a lot happening with that little blow-up amphibian," notes an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

The Path From Pepe to Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by online communities during a political race.

When the character first took off on the internet, it was used to signal specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to endorse a candidate, including one notable meme shared by the candidate personally, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became a coded signal.

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

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has stated about his unhappiness for its appropriation. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

Pepe first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he stated the character came from his experiences with companions.

When he began, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into darker parts of the internet, the creator attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows the lack of control over imagery," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be repurposed."

Previously, the association of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. This shifted recently, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

The event followed a directive to send military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Activists began to gather in droves at a specific location, just outside of an ICE office.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer used pepper spray at the individual, directing it into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, quipped, remarking it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident spread everywhere.

The frog suit was not too unusual for Portland, famous for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that revel in the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and Portland, which argued the use of troops overstepped authority.

While the court ruled in October that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, one judge dissented, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "known tendency for using unusual attire when expressing opposition."

"It is easy to see this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

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

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

The inflatable suit was spotted nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was sold out on major websites, and rose in price.

Shaping the Optics

The link between the two amphibian symbols – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that calls attention to a cause without needing explicitly stating them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

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