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This resistance may not be broadcast, but it could have webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

As protests opposing the administration continue in American cities, demonstrators are adopting the vibe of a community costume parade. They've provided salsa lessons, given away snacks, and performed on unicycles, as officers observe.

Combining humour and political action – a strategy researchers call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of US demonstrations in recent years, adopted by various groups.

A specific icon has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It originated after video footage of a clash between an individual in an amphibian costume and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, spread online. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations nationwide.

"There's a lot at play with that little inflatable frog," states LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who studies creative activism.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It's hard to talk about protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by extremist movements throughout an election cycle.

When the character initially spread online, people used it to signal certain emotions. Afterwards, it was utilized to show support for a candidate, even one notable meme endorsed by the candidate himself, showing Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in darker contexts, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was deployed an inside joke.

However the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his work, he said the character was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to the nascent social web, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of online spaces, the creator tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates that we don't control symbols," explains the professor. "They transform and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the popularity of Pepe meant that frogs became a symbol for the right. But that changed on a day in October, when an incident between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

The event occurred shortly after a directive to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, just outside of an ICE office.

Tensions were high and an agent sprayed a chemical agent at a protester, targeting the ventilation of the costume.

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

The frog suit was somewhat typical for the city, renowned for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that embrace the absurd – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol even played a role in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which claimed the use of troops was unlawful.

While a judge decided in October that the president had the right to deploy troops, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "propensity for using unusual attire when expressing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge opined. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The deployment was halted by courts just a month later, and troops have reportedly departed the area.

But by then, the frog had become a significant symbol of resistance for the left.

The costume appeared across the country at No Kings protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was backordered on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Visual Story

What connects both frogs together – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The strategy is based on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that calls attention to a message without needing directly articulating them. It's the unusual prop used, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The theory of such tactics is three-fold, Mr Bogad says.

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