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The revolution won't be televised, yet it might possess amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

While demonstrations opposing the leadership persist in American cities, demonstrators are utilizing the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided dance instruction, distributed treats, and ridden unicycles, as officers watch.

Combining humour and political action – a tactic researchers call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a signature characteristic of American protest in the current era, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It originated after recordings of an encounter between an individual in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. It subsequently appeared to protests nationwide.

"A great deal happening with that small blow-up amphibian," states an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who studies political performance.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It's challenging to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by online communities throughout a political race.

When the character gained popularity on the internet, its purpose was to signal certain emotions. Later, its use evolved to express backing for a political figure, even one notable meme retweeted by the candidate himself, portraying Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users traded "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", became a coded signal.

However the character did not originate so controversial.

Its creator, the illustrator, has expressed about his distaste for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which documents the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he explained his drawing came from his experiences with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist experimented with uploading his work to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of the internet, the creator attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own imagery," says the professor. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

Previously, the popularity of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. This shifted on a day in October, when an incident between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The moment followed a decision to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to gather in droves outside a facility, just outside of a federal building.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer deployed pepper spray at a protester, aiming directly into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The protester, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, stating it tasted like "something milder". However, the video went viral.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that delight in the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which argued the deployment was unlawful.

While the court ruled that month that the president had the right to send personnel, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion the protesters' "propensity for wearing chicken suits while voicing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," she opined. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The order was stopped legally subsequently, and troops withdrew from the area.

But by then, the frog had become a potent symbol of resistance for the left.

This symbol was spotted across the country at No Kings protests that fall. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

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

Shaping the Optics

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that draws focus to a message without needing obviously explaining them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the symbol you share.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and still have plausible deniability."

The theory of this approach is three-fold, he says.

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