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This resistance isn't televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

Additionally, it could include a unicorn's horn or the plumage of a chicken.

While protests opposing the administration carry on in US cities, protesters have embraced the vibe of a community costume parade. They've offered dance instruction, given away snacks, and performed on unicycles, as officers look on.

Combining comedy and political action – a strategy social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a hallmark of American protest in the current era, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It originated after a video of an encounter between a protester in a frog suit and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. From there, it proliferated to protests nationwide.

"A great deal at play with that humble inflatable frog," says LM Bogad, a professor at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It's challenging to talk about protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by online communities during an election cycle.

Initially, when the meme gained popularity online, its purpose was to express specific feelings. Subsequently, it was deployed to show support for a candidate, including a particular image shared by the candidate himself, showing Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed an inside joke.

But its beginnings were not so controversial.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

This character debuted in comic strips in the mid-2000s – non-political and best known for a particular bathroom habit. A film, which follows Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his work, he explained his drawing came from his experiences with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to the nascent social web, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that we don't control icons," states the professor. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the notoriety of this meme meant that frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. A transformation occurred in early October, when a viral moment between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The moment occurred shortly after an order to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to congregate at a specific location, near an ICE office.

Tensions were high and a officer used pepper spray at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the puffy frog costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, remarking he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage went viral.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for Portland, known for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that embrace the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol became part of in a lawsuit between the administration and Portland, which contended the use of troops overstepped authority.

Although a judge decided that month that the president had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning demonstrators' "propensity for using unusual attire while voicing dissent."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," she wrote. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was halted by courts just a month later, and personnel are said to have left the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume was now a powerful protest icon for the left.

This symbol was spotted in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was sold out on online retailers, and rose in price.

Mastering the Narrative

What brings the two amphibian symbols – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that highlights a message without directly articulating them. This is the unusual prop you wear, or the meme you share.

The professor is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. 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 a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

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