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The protest movement may not be televised, but it could have webbed feet and protruding eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

As rallies opposing the leadership persist in American cities, demonstrators are adopting the vibe of a local block party. They have taught salsa lessons, distributed treats, and performed on unicycles, while armed law enforcement watch.

Blending humour and politics – an approach experts term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a defining feature of American protest in this period, adopted by various groups.

And one symbol has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It began after video footage of an encounter between a protester in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to rallies throughout the United States.

"There is much going on with that small frog costume," notes LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on creative activism.

The Path From Pepe to Portland

It's challenging to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by online communities during an election cycle.

Initially, when the meme first took off on the internet, people used it to convey specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to express backing for a candidate, including one notable meme shared by that figure himself, showing Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in offensive ways, as a historical dictator. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed an inside joke.

However its beginnings were not so controversial.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

The frog debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which follows the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he stated the character came from his life with friends and roommates.

As he started out, the artist experimented with sharing his art to new websites, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

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

For a long time, the association of this meme resulted in amphibian imagery were largely associated with the right. A transformation occurred on a day in October, when an incident between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The moment followed a directive to send military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to congregate on a single block, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

Tensions were high and a officer used irritant at a protester, directing it into the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, remarking he had tasted "something milder". But the incident spread everywhere.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for Portland, known for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that revel in the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog became part of in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the use of troops overstepped authority.

While the court ruled that month that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, one judge dissented, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes when expressing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see the majority's ruling, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "Yet the outcome has serious implications."

The order was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and personnel are said to have left the city.

Yet already, the amphibian costume was now a significant anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The costume was spotted across the country at No Kings protests recently. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Narrative

What connects both frogs together – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" act that draws focus to your ideas without needing obviously explaining them. This is the goofy costume you wear, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a book on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

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