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The resistance isn't broadcast, but it could have amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

Whilst protests opposing the administration persist in US cities, protesters are utilizing the spirit of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, distributed treats, and performed on unicycles, as officers observe.

Combining humour and politics – an approach researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a defining feature of American protest in the current era, adopted by various groups.

One particular emblem has risen to become particularly salient – the frog. It started when a video of a confrontation between an individual in an inflatable frog and federal officers in the city of Portland, went viral. It subsequently appeared to protests across the country.

"A great deal at play with that little inflatable frog," says a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in performance art.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by online communities throughout a political race.

Initially, when the character gained popularity online, its purpose was to express specific feelings. Later, it was utilized to endorse a candidate, even one notable meme shared by the candidate personally, portraying Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was used an inside joke.

However its beginnings were not so controversial.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has stated about his unhappiness for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

Pepe debuted in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. A film, which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his creation, he stated his drawing was inspired by his experiences with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to early internet platforms, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

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

Until recently, the association of Pepe resulted in frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. But that changed in early October, when an incident between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The moment came just days after a decision to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to congregate on a single block, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer sprayed a chemical agent at a protester, targeting the opening of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating he had tasted "something milder". However, the video spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for the city, famous for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and Portland, which argued the use of troops was illegal.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the president was within its rights to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes while voicing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber stated. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The order was halted by courts soon after, and troops withdrew from the area.

Yet already, the amphibian costume was now a potent protest icon for progressive movements.

The costume was spotted nationwide at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in small towns and big international cities abroad.

This item was sold out on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Visual Story

What brings both frogs together – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" act that highlights your ideas without needing directly articulating them. It's the goofy costume used, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The idea of such tactics is multi-faceted, he says.

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