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This protest movement isn't televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

While demonstrations against the administration continue in US cities, protesters are adopting the vibe of a local block party. They have taught salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, as armed law enforcement observe.

Mixing comedy and political action – a strategy researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of American protest in recent years, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It originated after recordings of a clash between an individual in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. From there, it proliferated to protests across the country.

"There's a lot happening with that little blow-up amphibian," notes an expert, a professor at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies performance art.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to examine protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by online communities during a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the meme gained popularity on the internet, people used it to express specific feelings. Later, it was utilized to show support for a candidate, even a particular image retweeted by that figure personally, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in offensive ways, as a hate group member. Users exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", became an inside joke.

But Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his distaste for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

This character debuted in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. A film, which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he said his drawing came from his life with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to the nascent social web, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread 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 the lack of control over icons," explains Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reworked."

Previously, the popularity of this meme resulted in amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. A transformation occurred in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland spread rapidly online.

The event occurred shortly after a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Protesters began to gather in droves at a specific location, near an ICE office.

The situation was tense and a officer used irritant at the individual, targeting the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, stating it tasted like "spicier tamales". However, the video spread everywhere.

The frog suit fit right in for the city, renowned for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that delight in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol became part of in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which contended the use of troops was illegal.

While the court ruled in October that the president was within its rights to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion the protesters' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes when expressing opposition."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "Yet the outcome has serious implications."

The action was stopped legally soon after, and personnel are said to have left the city.

However, by that time, the frog had become a powerful protest icon for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was spotted in many cities at No Kings protests recently. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on major websites, and rose in price.

Controlling the Narrative

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

The tactic relies on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that draws focus to a cause without obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol you share.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and an experienced participant. He's written a text on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The purpose of such tactics is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad says.

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