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The resistance won't be televised, but it could have webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

While protests opposing the leadership carry on in US cities, protesters are adopting the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided salsa lessons, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, while police watch.

Combining comedy and politics – a tactic researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a signature characteristic of American protest in the current era, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has risen to become particularly salient – the frog. It began when a video of an encounter between an individual in a frog suit and federal officers in the city of Portland, went viral. And it has since spread to rallies nationwide.

"There is much at play with that little frog costume," notes a professor, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on performance art.

From Pepe to Portland

It's hard to examine demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by far-right groups throughout a political race.

As the meme gained popularity online, its purpose was to signal specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to express backing for a political figure, including one notable meme endorsed by that figure himself, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, as a hate group member. Users traded "rare Pepes" and established digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed an inside joke.

Yet Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

Its creator, the illustrator, has been vocal about his disapproval for its appropriation. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

Pepe debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his creation, he said the character was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist experimented with uploading his work to early internet platforms, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into the more extreme corners of online spaces, the creator tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that we don't control symbols," explains the professor. "They can change and shift and be reworked."

For a long time, the notoriety of this meme meant that frogs were predominantly linked to the right. A transformation occurred recently, when a viral moment between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident followed a decision to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Activists began to gather in droves on a single block, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and a officer sprayed irritant at a protester, targeting the opening of the inflatable suit.

The protester, Seth Todd, quipped, remarking he had tasted "spicier tamales". However, the video went viral.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that embrace the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol was also referenced in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which argued the deployment overstepped authority.

While the court ruled that month that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits while voicing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge opined. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The action was stopped legally subsequently, and troops have reportedly departed the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had become a significant symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was seen in many cities 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 like Tokyo and London.

This item was backordered on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Shaping the Optics

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that calls attention to a message without needing obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the meme you share.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

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

As activists confront authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences