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The resistance isn't broadcast, though it may feature amphibious toes and large eyes.

It also might feature the horn of a unicorn or a chicken's feathers.

While protests opposing the administration continue in US cities, participants have embraced the energy of a local block party. They have taught dance instruction, distributed snacks, and ridden unicycles, as officers observe.

Combining humour and politics – a strategy social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a defining feature of protests in the United States in this period, used by various groups.

And one symbol has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It began when a video of an encounter between an individual in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to protests across the country.

"There is much happening with that little frog costume," states an expert, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on political performance.

The Path From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by far-right groups during a political race.

Initially, when the character first took off on the internet, its purpose was to signal certain emotions. Later, it was deployed to show support for a candidate, including a particular image endorsed by that figure personally, showing the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", became a shared phrase.

But the character did not originate this divisive.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

The frog debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. A film, which documents the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he explained the character was inspired by his life with companions.

When he began, the artist tried sharing his art to new websites, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that we don't control icons," states the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the popularity of this meme resulted in amphibian imagery became a symbol for conservative politics. This shifted recently, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

This incident occurred shortly after an order to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to gather in droves outside a facility, near an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and a officer sprayed pepper spray at a protester, aiming directly into the air intake fan of the costume.

The individual, the man in the costume, quipped, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage became a sensation.

The costume was not too unusual for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that revel in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

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

While a judge decided in October that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes when expressing their disagreement."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber stated. "Yet the outcome has serious implications."

The order was halted by courts soon after, and personnel are said to have left the area.

However, by that time, the frog was now a powerful anti-administration symbol for the left.

This symbol was spotted nationwide at No Kings protests recently. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was sold out on online retailers, and rose in price.

Shaping the Optics

What brings both frogs together – is the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that draws focus to your ideas without explicitly stating them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol you share.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"One can look 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 this approach is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad says.

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