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The resistance won't be broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and bulging eyes.

It also might feature the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

As demonstrations against the government carry on in US cities, participants are adopting the spirit of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've offered salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and performed on unicycles, as armed law enforcement observe.

Combining comedy and politics – a tactic experts call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a defining feature of American protest in this period, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It began after a video of a confrontation between an individual in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in the city of Portland, went viral. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations throughout the United States.

"There's a lot happening with that humble inflatable frog," says LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who specialises in performance art.

From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's hard to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog co-opted by extremist movements during a previous presidential campaign.

When the character first took off on the internet, it was used to convey certain emotions. Later, it was utilized to endorse a political figure, including one notable meme endorsed by the candidate personally, portraying Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

However the character did not originate this divisive.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has stated about his unhappiness for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

The frog debuted in an online comic in 2005 – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which follows the creator's attempt to take back of his work, he said his drawing was inspired by his time with companions.

Early in his career, the artist tried uploading his work to new websites, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of online spaces, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over imagery," explains the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

Previously, the popularity of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery became a symbol for conservative politics. But that changed on a day in October, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The event came just days after a directive to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to congregate at a specific location, near an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and a officer sprayed irritant at a protester, aiming directly into the ventilation of the costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, remarking it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident became a sensation.

The frog suit fit right in for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that embrace the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which argued the use of troops was unlawful.

Although a judge decided that month that the administration had the right to send personnel, one judge dissented, mentioning the protesters' "propensity for using unusual attire while voicing dissent."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge stated. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The order was "permanently" blocked soon after, and troops withdrew from the area.

Yet already, the frog was now a potent symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was spotted across the country at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

This item was sold out on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Narrative

What connects both frogs together – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights a cause without needing obviously explaining them. This is the unusual prop used, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

As activists confront authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences