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The resistance won't be televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations against the leadership continue in US cities, participants are adopting the vibe of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, distributed treats, and performed on unicycles, while police observe.

Combining comedy and politics – a strategy social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a defining feature of American protest in this period, adopted by both left and right.

A specific icon has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It began after a video of a clash between a protester in an amphibian costume and federal officers in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to protests across the country.

"There's a lot at play with that humble blow-up amphibian," says a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who studies political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by far-right groups during a previous presidential campaign.

As this image first took off online, its purpose was to express certain emotions. Later, its use evolved to show support for a political figure, including a particular image retweeted by the candidate personally, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in offensive ways, as a historical dictator. Users traded "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed a coded signal.

But Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has stated about his unhappiness for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

Pepe debuted in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his work, he explained the character was inspired by his time with companions.

When he began, the artist tried sharing his art to the nascent social web, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie sought to reject the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates that we don't control imagery," says the professor. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the notoriety of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. This shifted on a day in October, when a confrontation between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland spread rapidly online.

The event came just days after a directive to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, just outside of a federal building.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer deployed pepper spray at a protester, targeting the opening of the costume.

The protester, the man in the costume, quipped, remarking he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage became a sensation.

The costume fit right in for Portland, renowned for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that embrace the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which argued the use of troops was illegal.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the president had the right to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes when expressing dissent."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which adopts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge opined. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The order was stopped legally just a month later, and troops withdrew from the city.

Yet already, the frog had become a significant anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The costume was seen across the country at No Kings protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

The frog costume was in high demand on online retailers, and rose in price.

Controlling the Visual Story

The link between Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the interplay between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that calls attention to a cause without needing directly articulating them. This is the goofy costume used, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to speak the truth a little bit and still have plausible deniability."

The theory of such tactics is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad explains.

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