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The resistance won't be broadcast, but it could have amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

Whilst demonstrations opposing the administration persist in US cities, protesters have embraced the energy of a community costume parade. They've offered salsa lessons, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement look on.

Blending humour and politics – a tactic social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of protests in the United States in the current era, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It started after video footage of a clash between a protester in an amphibian costume and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to protests throughout the United States.

"There's a lot at play with that humble blow-up amphibian," states LM Bogad, a professor at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by extremist movements throughout a political race.

When this image gained popularity online, people used it to signal certain emotions. Later, it was deployed to express backing for a candidate, including one notable meme retweeted by that figure personally, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed a coded signal.

But its beginnings were not so controversial.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

The frog debuted in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. A film, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his creation, he stated his drawing came from his life with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to new websites, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

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

Previously, the popularity of Pepe meant that frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. A transformation occurred in early October, when a confrontation between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

This incident followed an order to send the National Guard to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, near an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and a officer sprayed a chemical agent at a protester, directing it into the air intake fan of the costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, quipped, stating he had tasted "something milder". However, the video went viral.

The costume was somewhat typical for the city, known for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

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

Although the court ruled in October that the president had the right to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning demonstrators' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes while voicing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber opined. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

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

Yet already, the amphibian costume was now a significant symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was spotted across the country at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in small towns and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Narrative

What brings the two amphibian symbols – lies in the relationship between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" act that draws focus to a message without needing obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit used, or the meme you share.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The theory of this approach is multi-faceted, he explains.

When protesters take on a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences