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The resistance won't be broadcast, but it could have amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

While rallies against the administration carry on in American cities, participants are utilizing the spirit of a local block party. They've provided dance instruction, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, while officers look on.

Blending comedy and political action – a tactic experts call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a hallmark of American protest in the current era, adopted by both left and right.

One particular emblem has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It started when a video of an encounter between an individual in an inflatable frog and federal officers in the city of Portland, went viral. From there, it proliferated to protests across the country.

"There's a lot happening with that humble blow-up amphibian," states LM Bogad, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on creative activism.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's challenging to examine demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by far-right groups during an election cycle.

As the meme first took off on the internet, people used it to signal certain emotions. Subsequently, it was deployed to show support for a candidate, even a particular image endorsed by that figure personally, depicting the frog with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was used a coded signal.

But the character did not originate so controversial.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has been vocal about his unhappiness for its appropriation. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

This character debuted in comic strips in 2005 – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he stated the character was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

As he started out, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into darker parts of the internet, the creator tried to disavow his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that we don't control icons," explains the professor. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

Previously, the association of Pepe meant that frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. But that changed in early October, when an incident between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

This incident followed a decision to send the National Guard to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer used a chemical agent at the individual, aiming directly into the ventilation of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, stating it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident became a sensation.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel in the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which claimed the use of troops overstepped authority.

While a judge decided in October that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire while voicing dissent."

"It is easy to see the court's opinion, which adopts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber opined. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The action was halted by courts subsequently, and personnel withdrew from the area.

However, by that time, the frog had become a potent protest icon for the left.

The inflatable suit was seen across the country at No Kings protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Visual Story

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – often silly, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that calls attention to a cause without needing explicitly stating them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, he says.

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