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

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

While protests opposing the administration continue in American cities, demonstrators are utilizing the vibe of a community costume parade. They've offered dance instruction, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, while police watch.

Combining levity and political action – a tactic social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in the current era, used by both left and right.

And one symbol has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It started when a video of a clash between a protester in an inflatable frog and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to rallies nationwide.

"There is much going on with that little inflatable frog," notes a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in political performance.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by far-right groups during a political race.

As the meme first took off on the internet, it was used to convey specific feelings. Subsequently, it was deployed to show support for a candidate, including one notable meme shared by that figure personally, portraying the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, as a historical dictator. Users traded "unique frog images" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was used an inside joke.

But Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

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

The frog first appeared in comic strips in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he explained his drawing came from his life with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As Pepe spread into darker parts of the internet, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves the lack of control over icons," says the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

For a long time, the popularity of this meme resulted in frogs became a symbol for the right. But that changed in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

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

Tensions were high and a officer deployed a chemical agent at a protester, targeting the opening of the costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, quipped, stating it tasted like "spicier tamales". However, the video went viral.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for the city, known for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that delight in the absurd – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which argued the deployment overstepped authority.

While the court ruled that month that the president had the right to deploy troops, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion the protesters' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes while voicing dissent."

"Some might view this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," she stated. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The order was halted by courts soon after, and personnel have reportedly departed the area.

But by then, the frog was now a powerful protest icon for the left.

The inflatable suit was spotted across the country at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

This item was in high demand on major websites, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Narrative

The link between both frogs together – is the relationship between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that highlights your ideas without needing explicitly stating them. It's the silly outfit used, or the meme you share.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. 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 still have a layer of protection."

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

As protesters take on authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences