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The revolution may not be broadcast, yet it might possess amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations against the administration persist in US cities, demonstrators are utilizing the energy of a community costume parade. They've offered dance instruction, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, while police look on.

Blending comedy and politics – a tactic researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a defining feature of US demonstrations in the current era, embraced by various groups.

A specific icon has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It began after recordings of an encounter between a man in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations nationwide.

"There's a lot going on with that small inflatable frog," states a professor, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who studies political performance.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by far-right groups throughout an election cycle.

When the meme gained popularity on the internet, its purpose was to express certain emotions. Later, its use evolved to show support for a political figure, even a particular image endorsed by that figure personally, showing the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed a coded signal.

But its beginnings were not as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has been vocal about his distaste for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

This character first appeared in comic strips in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he explained his drawing was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

As he started out, the artist tried sharing his art to new websites, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that we don't control symbols," explains Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

Previously, the association of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery became a symbol for conservative politics. This shifted in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland went viral.

This incident followed an order to deploy military personnel to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to gather in droves on a single block, just outside of an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer used a chemical agent at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, quipped, saying he had tasted "something milder". Yet the footage became a sensation.

The frog suit fit right in for Portland, famous for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that delight in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and the city, which claimed the use of troops was illegal.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the president had the right to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for wearing chicken suits when expressing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," she stated. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The order was halted by courts subsequently, and personnel have reportedly departed the area.

Yet already, the amphibian costume was now a significant protest icon for the left.

This symbol was spotted nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was in high demand on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Shaping the Optics

The link between the two amphibian symbols – lies in the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it acts as a "disarming and charming" act that calls attention to a cause without needing directly articulating them. This is the goofy costume you wear, or the symbol you share.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The idea of this approach is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad explains.

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