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This resistance won't be televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations opposing the government carry on in US cities, participants are adopting the spirit of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, as officers observe.

Mixing levity and politics – a strategy researchers call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of protests in the United States in the current era, adopted by both left and right.

A specific icon has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It began when recordings of an encounter between an individual in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to rallies nationwide.

"A great deal going on with that humble frog costume," says LM Bogad, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who studies political performance.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by far-right groups throughout a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the character initially spread on the internet, it was used to signal specific feelings. Subsequently, it was utilized to express backing for a candidate, even a particular image endorsed by that figure personally, showing Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in offensive ways, as a historical dictator. Users traded "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

Yet Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his distaste for its appropriation. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

This character debuted in comic strips in 2005 – apolitical and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which follows the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he explained his drawing came from his life with companions.

When he began, the artist tried sharing his art to the nascent social web, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of the internet, the creator sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that creators cannot own icons," states the professor. "They transform and be repurposed."

Previously, the association of Pepe resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. This shifted on a day in October, when a confrontation between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident came just days after a directive to send military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to gather in droves at a specific location, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and a officer used irritant at the individual, targeting the opening of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". But the incident became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for Portland, known for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that delight in the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

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

Although a judge decided in October that the president was within its rights to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire while voicing opposition."

"It is easy to see the majority's ruling, which adopts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," she opined. "But today's decision has serious implications."

The action was halted by courts subsequently, and troops are said to have left the area.

But by then, the amphibian costume had transformed into a potent protest icon for the left.

This symbol was spotted nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was sold out on major websites, and rose in price.

Shaping the Optics

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

The tactic is based on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that draws focus to a cause without needing obviously explaining them. It's the goofy costume you wear, or the symbol you share.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He's written a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

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

The idea of such tactics is multi-faceted, he explains.

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