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

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

As demonstrations opposing the leadership continue in US cities, protesters are utilizing the vibe of a community costume parade. They've offered dance instruction, handed out snacks, and performed on unicycles, as police observe.

Blending comedy and politics – a strategy experts call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of protests in the United States in recent years, used by various groups.

A specific icon has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It started when a video of a clash between an individual in a frog suit and ICE agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to demonstrations nationwide.

"There's a lot at play with that small inflatable frog," states LM Bogad, a professor at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on political performance.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It is difficult to examine demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by far-right groups throughout a previous presidential campaign.

As the meme first took off online, its purpose was to express certain emotions. Afterwards, it was deployed to express backing for a candidate, even one notable meme retweeted by the candidate himself, showing Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Users exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

Yet the character did not originate so controversial.

Its creator, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. A film, which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he explained his drawing came from his life with companions.

As he started out, the artist tried uploading his work to new websites, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. When the meme proliferated into the more extreme corners of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates that we don't control icons," says Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the popularity of Pepe resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. But that changed in early October, when a viral moment between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland went viral.

This incident followed a decision to send the National Guard to Portland, 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 deployed irritant at the individual, aiming directly into the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

The protester, Seth Todd, quipped, remarking he had tasted "something milder". But the incident became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for the city, known for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that delight in the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog was also referenced in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and the city, which contended the deployment overstepped authority.

Although a ruling was issued that month that the president had the right to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning demonstrators' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits while voicing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see the court's opinion, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "But today's decision has serious implications."

The deployment was halted by courts subsequently, and troops withdrew from the area.

Yet already, the amphibian costume was now a powerful protest icon for the left.

The inflatable suit appeared in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was backordered on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Optics

What brings both frogs together – is the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" display that highlights a cause without directly articulating them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the meme circulated.

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

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

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