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This resistance won't be broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

Whilst protests against the government carry on in American cities, demonstrators are utilizing the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided dance instruction, distributed snacks, and ridden unicycles, while police watch.

Combining humour and political action – a tactic experts call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of American protest in the current era, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It originated when recordings of a clash between an individual in an inflatable frog and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, spread online. From there, it proliferated to rallies throughout the United States.

"There is much going on with that small frog costume," notes a professor, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in creative activism.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It is difficult to talk about protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by online communities throughout a political race.

Initially, when this image gained popularity on the internet, it was used to convey specific feelings. Later, its use evolved to endorse a political figure, including one notable meme endorsed by that figure personally, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed a coded signal.

But its beginnings were not so controversial.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his unhappiness for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he stated his drawing came from his experiences with friends and roommates.

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 its popularity grew into the more extreme corners of the internet, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It shows that we don't control icons," says Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the association of Pepe meant that frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. A transformation occurred on a day in October, when a confrontation between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The event followed a directive to send military personnel to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Protesters began to congregate at a specific location, near a federal building.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer sprayed pepper spray at the individual, aiming directly into the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

The individual, the man in the costume, quipped, remarking he had tasted "spicier tamales". But the incident became a sensation.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for the city, known for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that delight in the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which argued the deployment was illegal.

Although a ruling was issued that month that the administration had the right to send personnel, one judge dissented, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire while voicing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge stated. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked soon after, and troops have reportedly departed the city.

However, by that time, the frog was now a potent protest icon for the left.

The inflatable suit was seen nationwide at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

This item was in high demand on online retailers, and rose in price.

Mastering the Visual Story

What connects the two amphibian symbols – lies in the interplay between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy is based on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" act that draws focus to your ideas without needing explicitly stating them. This is the goofy costume used, or the meme you share.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The idea of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

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