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The protest movement isn't televised, but it could have amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

Whilst protests against the government persist in US cities, demonstrators are adopting the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided salsa lessons, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, while police look on.

Mixing humour and political action – a strategy researchers term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of protests in the United States in the current era, used by both left and right.

A specific icon has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It began when a video of a confrontation between an individual in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations nationwide.

"A great deal at play with that little inflatable frog," notes LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies performance art.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog embraced by far-right groups throughout a political race.

When the meme initially spread online, people used it to express certain emotions. Afterwards, its use evolved to show support for a political figure, including one notable meme endorsed by the candidate personally, portraying Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, as a hate group member. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was used an inside joke.

However its beginnings were not as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has stated about his unhappiness for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

This character first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which documents the creator's attempt to take back of his work, he explained his drawing was inspired by his life with companions.

When he began, the artist tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As its popularity grew into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that creators cannot own imagery," explains Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

For a long time, the association of this meme meant that frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. A transformation occurred recently, when an incident between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

The moment came just days after a decision to send military personnel to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, near an ICE office.

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

The protester, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, remarking he had tasted "something milder". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for the city, famous for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that delight in the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the deployment was illegal.

While a ruling was issued in October that the president had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning the protesters' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," she stated. "However, this ruling is not merely absurd."

The action was "permanently" blocked just a month later, and troops have reportedly departed the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had become a powerful protest icon for the left.

This symbol was spotted across the country at No Kings protests recently. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was backordered on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Narrative

The link between both frogs together – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that calls attention to your ideas without needing obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit used, or the symbol circulated.

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

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

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

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