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The resistance isn't broadcast, yet it might possess webbed feet and large eyes.

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

Whilst protests opposing the government persist in American cities, protesters are adopting the energy of a community costume parade. They've offered salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement observe.

Mixing comedy and politics – a tactic experts term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of American protest in the current era, embraced by various groups.

A specific icon has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It originated after video footage of a clash between an individual in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations nationwide.

"There is much happening with that humble inflatable frog," notes a professor, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on political performance.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to examine demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog embraced by extremist movements throughout a political race.

As this image initially spread online, people used it to signal certain emotions. Later, it was utilized to show support for a political figure, even a particular image retweeted by the candidate personally, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "unique frog images" and established digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed an inside joke.

However Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in an online comic in 2005 – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. A film, which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he stated his drawing came from his life with companions.

As he started out, the artist experimented with uploading his work to early internet platforms, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves the lack of control over icons," explains the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be reworked."

Until recently, the notoriety of Pepe resulted in frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. This shifted on a day in October, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The event came just days after a directive to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Protesters began to congregate on a single block, just outside of a federal building.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer sprayed pepper spray at a protester, aiming directly into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

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

The costume was somewhat typical for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that embrace the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and the city, which contended the deployment was unlawful.

While a judge decided that month that the president was within its rights to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "propensity for using unusual attire while voicing dissent."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber opined. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The deployment was halted by courts soon after, and personnel withdrew from the city.

Yet already, the amphibian costume had transformed into a powerful protest icon for progressive movements.

This symbol was spotted nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. 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.

This item was backordered on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Shaping the Visual Story

What connects the two amphibian symbols – lies in the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" act that draws focus to your ideas without needing directly articulating them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

The purpose of such tactics is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

When protesters take on the state, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences