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This protest movement won't be televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

While protests opposing the government carry on in US cities, protesters have embraced the vibe of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, given away snacks, and performed on unicycles, as officers look on.

Mixing comedy and politics – an approach researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in this period, embraced by both left and right.

One particular emblem has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It began when recordings of a confrontation between a protester in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to protests nationwide.

"A great deal happening with that humble inflatable frog," says an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies performance art.

The Path From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by online communities throughout a political race.

Initially, when the meme initially spread online, its purpose was to express specific feelings. Afterwards, it was deployed to endorse a candidate, even one notable meme retweeted by that figure personally, depicting the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants traded "unique frog images" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", became a shared phrase.

However its beginnings were not this divisive.

Its creator, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

The frog debuted in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a quirky behavior. A film, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his work, he said his drawing came from his life with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie tried to disavow the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own symbols," states Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

Previously, the association of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. A transformation occurred recently, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The event occurred shortly after a directive to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to congregate on a single block, just outside of a federal building.

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

The individual, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, saying he had tasted "spicier tamales". But the incident went viral.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that delight in the absurd – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume was also referenced in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and the city, which argued the use of troops was unlawful.

While the court ruled that month that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning demonstrators' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits when expressing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge opined. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The action was "permanently" blocked soon after, and personnel have reportedly departed the area.

But by then, the amphibian costume had become a potent symbol of resistance for the left.

The inflatable suit was seen in many cities at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

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

Mastering the Visual Story

What connects Pepe and the protest frog – is the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that highlights a message without explicitly stating them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He's written a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

As protesters take on the state, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences