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This protest movement may not be broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and large eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve a unicorn's horn or the plumage of a chicken.

While protests opposing the leadership persist in US cities, protesters have embraced the vibe of a community costume parade. They've offered dance instruction, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, while police look on.

Combining levity and politics – an approach social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. However, it has emerged as a defining feature of American protest in the current era, used by both left and right.

One particular emblem has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It started after a video of an encounter between an individual in an amphibian costume and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, went viral. It subsequently appeared to protests throughout the United States.

"A great deal at play with that little blow-up amphibian," notes an expert, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on performance art.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by far-right groups throughout a political race.

Initially, when the meme gained popularity online, its purpose was to signal specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to show support for a political figure, even one notable meme endorsed by the candidate himself, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, as a historical dictator. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

But Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his distaste for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

The frog first appeared in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which follows Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his creation, he stated the character was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

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 Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

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

Previously, the popularity of this meme meant that frogs became a symbol for the right. But that changed recently, when an incident between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

The moment came just days after an order to send military personnel to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Protesters began to congregate at a specific location, near an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer sprayed irritant at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, quipped, remarking it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for the city, renowned for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel in the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and the city, which argued the use of troops was unlawful.

While a ruling was issued that month that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion the protesters' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits when expressing dissent."

"It is easy to see the court's opinion, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber stated. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The action was stopped legally just a month later, and personnel withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the frog had transformed into a potent symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The costume was seen in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was sold out on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Visual Story

The link between both frogs together – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" display that draws focus to a message without needing directly articulating them. This is the goofy costume you wear, or the meme circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

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

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