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This resistance won't be broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

As protests against the leadership carry on in American cities, protesters are adopting the vibe of a community costume parade. They've offered dance instruction, handed out treats, and performed on unicycles, as police look on.

Combining levity and politics – a tactic social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of protests in the United States in the current era, used by various groups.

One particular emblem has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It originated after video footage of a clash between an individual in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, spread online. And it has since spread to demonstrations throughout the United States.

"A great deal at play with that small frog costume," states an expert, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies political performance.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to talk about protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by extremist movements throughout a political race.

When the character initially spread online, it was used to signal certain emotions. Subsequently, it was utilized to show support for a candidate, even one notable meme retweeted by that figure personally, portraying the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a historical dictator. Online conservatives exchanged "unique frog images" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", became a shared phrase.

But its beginnings were not this divisive.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his distaste for its co-option. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he said the character was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to the nascent social web, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of online spaces, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that creators cannot own imagery," says Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

Until recently, the popularity of Pepe resulted in frogs were largely associated with the right. A transformation occurred in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

The event came just days after a directive to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, near an immigration enforcement facility.

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, stating it tasted like "spicier tamales". Yet the footage became a sensation.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that embrace the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and Portland, which contended the deployment was illegal.

While a ruling was issued that month that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes while voicing dissent."

"It is easy to see this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "Yet the outcome has serious implications."

The deployment was halted by courts just a month later, and troops withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had become a powerful symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was seen across the country at No Kings protests last autumn. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was backordered on major websites, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Visual Story

What connects the two amphibian symbols – lies in the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that calls attention to your ideas without explicitly stating them. It's the silly outfit used, or the meme you share.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

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

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