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The protest movement isn't televised, but it could have amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

Whilst protests opposing the leadership continue in US cities, protesters have embraced the vibe of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, distributed treats, and performed on unicycles, as police observe.

Blending humour and politics – an approach experts term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of American protest in this period, adopted by various groups.

One particular emblem has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It started after recordings of an encounter between a protester in a frog suit and federal officers in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations across the country.

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

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It is difficult to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a web comic frog embraced by far-right groups throughout an election cycle.

Initially, when the meme initially spread online, it was used to express certain emotions. Afterwards, it was deployed to show support for a political figure, even a particular image endorsed by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants traded "unique frog images" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", became a shared phrase.

Yet Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his disapproval for its appropriation. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in his series.

The frog debuted in a series of comics 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 stated the character came from his life with friends and roommates.

When he began, the artist experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of online spaces, the creator tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that we don't control imagery," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reworked."

For a long time, the notoriety of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with the right. A transformation occurred on a day in October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland went viral.

The event followed an order to send military personnel to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Activists began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, just outside of a federal building.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer sprayed a chemical agent at the individual, directing it into the ventilation of the puffy frog costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, remarking he had tasted "something milder". However, the video went viral.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for the city, famous for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that embrace the ridiculous – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in a lawsuit between the administration and Portland, which claimed the deployment overstepped authority.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the president was within its rights to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion the protesters' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire when expressing dissent."

"It is easy to see the majority's ruling, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber opined. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked just a month later, and troops are said to have left the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had become a significant protest icon for the left.

The costume appeared nationwide at No Kings protests recently. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

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

Shaping the Narrative

What connects the two amphibian symbols – lies in the interplay between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" display that draws focus to your ideas without explicitly stating them. This is the goofy costume you wear, or the meme circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

The purpose of this approach is three-fold, he says.

As protesters take on the state, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences