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This resistance isn't broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and large eyes.

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

As demonstrations against the leadership carry on in US cities, protesters have embraced the vibe of a community costume parade. They've offered dance instruction, given away snacks, and performed on unicycles, while police observe.

Combining comedy and political action – a strategy social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in this period, embraced by both left and right.

And one symbol has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It originated when recordings of a clash between a man in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations across the country.

"There's a lot happening with that humble blow-up amphibian," says LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on political performance.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's challenging to talk about protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a web comic frog adopted by extremist movements during a previous presidential campaign.

When the character first took off on the internet, people used it to signal specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to endorse a political figure, including one notable meme endorsed by that figure himself, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Users exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed a shared phrase.

Yet Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

Its creator, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

This character first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he explained his drawing was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

As he started out, the artist experimented with sharing his art to new websites, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that creators cannot own symbols," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reworked."

For a long time, the popularity of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. But that changed recently, when a confrontation between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

This incident came just days after a decision to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, just outside of a federal building.

Emotions ran high and a officer deployed irritant at a protester, aiming directly into the opening of the inflatable suit.

The protester, the man in the costume, quipped, remarking it tasted like "something milder". But the incident went viral.

The costume fit right in for the city, renowned for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that revel in the absurd – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

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

Although a judge decided in October that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes while voicing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," she stated. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The order was "permanently" blocked soon after, and troops are said to have left the area.

But by then, the frog had become a significant anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was seen in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

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

Mastering the Optics

The link between both frogs together – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it acts as a "disarming and charming" act that draws focus to your ideas without needing obviously explaining them. It's the goofy costume used, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

The theory of such tactics is three-fold, he explains.

As protesters confront authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences