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This protest movement may not be broadcast, but it could have amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

While rallies against the leadership carry on in American cities, demonstrators have embraced the spirit of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, while police look on.

Mixing humour and politics – an approach researchers term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in the current era, used by both left and right.

A specific icon has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It originated when video footage of a confrontation between a man in a frog suit and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. From there, it proliferated to protests across the country.

"There's a lot going on with that little frog costume," states a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who studies performance art.

From Pepe to Portland

It's challenging to talk about protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by extremist movements throughout a political race.

Initially, when the meme first took off online, people used it to signal certain emotions. Subsequently, its use evolved to endorse a candidate, even a particular image endorsed by the candidate himself, portraying Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Participants traded "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used an inside joke.

But Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has expressed about his distaste for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

Pepe debuted in comic strips in 2005 – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. A film, which chronicles the creator's attempt to take back of his work, he explained the character was inspired by his life with companions.

When he began, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to the nascent social web, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator sought to reject his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves the lack of control over imagery," states the professor. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the popularity of Pepe meant that frogs became a symbol for the right. A transformation occurred in early October, when an incident between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

This incident followed an order to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and an agent used irritant at a protester, aiming directly into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The individual, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, stating he had tasted "something milder". However, the video spread everywhere.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that delight in the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume was also referenced in a lawsuit between the administration and the city, which claimed the deployment was unlawful.

Although a judge decided that month that the president had the right to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "propensity for using unusual attire when expressing their disagreement."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber opined. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The order was stopped legally just a month later, and personnel have reportedly departed the area.

But by then, the amphibian costume was now a significant protest icon for progressive movements.

The costume was spotted across the country at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

This item was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Optics

The link between Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that calls attention to your ideas without directly articulating them. It's the silly outfit used, or the meme you share.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

The theory of such tactics is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad says.

When protesters confront a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences