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

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

Whilst protests against the government persist in US cities, protesters are adopting the energy of a community costume parade. They've offered dance instruction, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement look on.

Mixing humour and political action – a strategy experts call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a signature characteristic of American protest in the current era, used by both left and right.

A specific icon has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It started when video footage of an encounter between a man in a frog suit and ICE agents in the city of Portland, went viral. It subsequently appeared to rallies nationwide.

"There's a lot at play with that humble frog costume," notes an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on creative activism.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by far-right groups during a political race.

When the meme gained popularity on the internet, its purpose was to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, its use evolved to express backing for a political figure, including a particular image endorsed by the candidate personally, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed a coded signal.

However the character did not originate so controversial.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has been vocal about his disapproval for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

The frog debuted in comic strips in 2005 – apolitical and notable 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 life with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to the nascent social web, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into darker parts of the internet, the creator sought to reject his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own icons," states Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reworked."

For a long time, the notoriety of this meme resulted in amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. But that changed recently, 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 the National Guard to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

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

The protester, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, remarking it tasted like "something milder". But the incident went viral.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for the city, renowned for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that embrace the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume became part of in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and the city, which claimed the deployment was illegal.

While the court ruled in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, mentioning demonstrators' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire when expressing dissent."

"It is easy to see the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," she opined. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The action was stopped legally subsequently, and troops withdrew from the city.

Yet already, the amphibian costume had become a significant symbol of resistance for the left.

This symbol was seen across the country at No Kings protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

This item was sold out on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Optics

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

The tactic is based on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" display that draws focus to a message without needing explicitly stating them. It's the goofy costume used, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. He's written a text on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

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