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This protest movement won't be televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and large eyes.

Additionally, it could include the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

Whilst rallies opposing the administration continue in US cities, demonstrators are utilizing the vibe of a community costume parade. They've provided salsa lessons, handed out treats, and performed on unicycles, while officers look on.

Combining levity and political action – a tactic experts term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in this period, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It began when recordings of an encounter between an individual in an inflatable frog and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. And it has since spread to protests across the country.

"There is much going on with that little blow-up amphibian," says an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in performance art.

The Path From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a web comic frog co-opted by far-right groups during an election cycle.

When the meme initially spread on the internet, people used it to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, it was utilized to express backing for a political figure, even a particular image endorsed by the candidate himself, portraying Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, as a hate group member. Users traded "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was used an inside joke.

Yet Pepe didn't start out as a political symbol.

Its creator, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

This character first appeared in comic strips in 2005 – apolitical and famous for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which documents the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his work, he stated the character was inspired by his time with companions.

As he started out, the artist experimented with uploading his work to the nascent social web, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into the more extreme corners of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves that creators cannot own imagery," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be repurposed."

Until recently, the notoriety of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with the right. This shifted in early October, when an incident between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident occurred shortly after a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to congregate outside a facility, near an ICE office.

The situation was tense and an agent deployed pepper spray at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

The frog suit was not too unusual for the city, known for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the use of troops was unlawful.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the president was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes when expressing dissent."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," she stated. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The order was stopped legally soon after, and troops withdrew from the city.

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

This symbol was seen nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

The frog costume was backordered on major websites, and rose in price.

Controlling the Visual Story

The link between the two amphibian symbols – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that highlights a message without needing explicitly stating them. This is the unusual prop you wear, or the symbol you share.

The professor is an analyst on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The idea of this approach is three-fold, he says.

As protesters confront authority, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences