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This resistance isn't broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and large eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations opposing the leadership persist in US cities, protesters have embraced the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've offered dance instruction, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement watch.

Mixing comedy and political action – a strategy researchers term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of American protest in this period, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It began after a video of an encounter between a man in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. And it has since spread to rallies across the country.

"There is much going on with that little inflatable frog," notes LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

The Path From Pepe to Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by far-right groups throughout a previous presidential campaign.

As the character gained popularity on the internet, it was used to express certain emotions. Afterwards, it was deployed to show support for a candidate, including one notable meme retweeted by the candidate himself, portraying Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, as a historical dictator. Users traded "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became a coded signal.

However Pepe didn't start out as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

The frog debuted in comic strips in 2005 – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his work, he said the character was inspired by his life with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of online spaces, the creator tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates that we don't control symbols," explains the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Until recently, the popularity of this meme meant that amphibian imagery became a symbol for the right. But that changed recently, when an incident between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon went viral.

The moment came just days after a decision to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Protesters began to gather in droves on a single block, near an ICE office.

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

The protester, the man in the costume, quipped, saying it tasted like "spicier tamales". Yet the footage became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that revel in the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog was also referenced in a lawsuit between the federal government and Portland, which argued the use of troops was unlawful.

Although a judge decided in October that the president was within its rights to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning the protesters' "propensity for wearing chicken suits while voicing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber opined. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked just a month later, and troops have reportedly departed the area.

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

The costume was spotted nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in small towns and big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was in high demand on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Visual Story

The link between Pepe and the protest frog – is the relationship between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" display that highlights a cause without needing explicitly stating them. This is the silly outfit used, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a text on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

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

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