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This resistance may not be broadcast, though it may feature amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

Additionally, it could include the horn of a unicorn or a chicken's feathers.

As rallies opposing the administration persist in US cities, demonstrators are utilizing the energy of a local block party. They have taught salsa lessons, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, while officers look on.

Blending humour and politics – a tactic researchers term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of US demonstrations in this period, adopted by various groups.

And one symbol has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It originated when a video of an encounter between a man in an amphibian costume and federal officers in the city of Portland, went viral. And it has since spread to protests nationwide.

"A great deal going on with that small frog costume," notes an expert, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on performance art.

The Path From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by extremist movements throughout an election cycle.

As this image initially spread online, its purpose was to express specific feelings. Afterwards, it was utilized to show support for a candidate, including one notable meme endorsed by the candidate himself, portraying Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Users traded "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed a coded signal.

However its beginnings were not this divisive.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his unhappiness for its appropriation. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

This character first appeared in comic strips in 2005 – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. A film, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his work, he said the character was inspired by his time with companions.

When he began, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to new websites, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that we don't control icons," explains the professor. "They can change and shift and be reworked."

For a long time, the notoriety of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. But that changed in early October, when a viral moment between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland spread rapidly online.

The moment occurred shortly after a decision to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, near a federal building.

Emotions ran high and a officer deployed irritant at a protester, targeting the ventilation of the costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, remarking it tasted like "spicier tamales". However, the video spread everywhere.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for the city, known for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that embrace the absurd – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which argued the deployment was illegal.

While a judge decided in October that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion the protesters' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes when expressing dissent."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge opined. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The order was halted by courts just a month later, and troops have reportedly departed the city.

However, by that time, the frog was now a powerful symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

This symbol was spotted nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

This item was backordered on major websites, and rose in price.

Controlling the Visual Story

What connects the two amphibian symbols – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" display that highlights your ideas without explicitly stating them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the meme circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The theory of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

When activists take on a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences