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This resistance may not be broadcast, but it could have webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

As protests against the leadership carry on in American cities, participants are adopting the energy of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, as police look on.

Mixing levity and political action – an approach researchers call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in the current era, adopted by both left and right.

A specific icon has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It originated when recordings of a confrontation between a man in an inflatable frog and federal officers in the city of Portland, spread online. And it has since spread to demonstrations nationwide.

"There is much at play with that little inflatable frog," notes an expert, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who studies creative activism.

The Path From Pepe to Portland

It is difficult to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by online communities throughout a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when this image initially spread on the internet, its purpose was to express specific feelings. Subsequently, it was deployed to show support for a political figure, including one notable meme endorsed by that figure himself, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed a coded signal.

Yet Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Its creator, the illustrator, has been vocal about his disapproval for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his comic world.

Pepe first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. A film, which follows the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his work, he stated his drawing was inspired by his life with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to new websites, where the community 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 final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It shows that creators cannot own icons," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be repurposed."

Previously, the association of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. A transformation occurred recently, when an incident between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The event followed an order to send military personnel to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, near an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer sprayed pepper spray at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, saying he had tasted "something milder". However, the video spread everywhere.

The frog suit fit right in for Portland, famous for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that revel in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and the city, which contended the deployment was unlawful.

Although a judge decided in October that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "propensity for wearing chicken suits when expressing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see the court's opinion, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," she opined. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The order was halted by courts soon after, and personnel withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had become a significant protest icon for progressive movements.

This symbol appeared nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests recently. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

This item was in high demand on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Shaping the Narrative

The link between both frogs together – lies in the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it acts as a "disarming and charming" performance that calls attention to a message without needing obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit used, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He authored a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, he explains.

When protesters confront authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences