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The resistance may not be broadcast, though it may feature amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

Whilst rallies against the government persist in US cities, protesters are utilizing the energy of a community costume parade. They have taught dance instruction, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, as officers watch.

Mixing humour and political action – a tactic researchers term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in the current era, used by both left and right.

And one symbol has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It began after recordings of an encounter between an individual in an inflatable frog and federal officers in the city of Portland, went viral. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations nationwide.

"A great deal going on with that little blow-up amphibian," says LM Bogad, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It's hard to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by extremist movements during a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when this image first took off online, people used it to express certain emotions. Later, it was deployed to show support for a candidate, even one notable meme retweeted by the candidate himself, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "unique frog images" and set up digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed an inside joke.

Yet its beginnings were not this divisive.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in his series.

Pepe debuted in an online comic in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he said his drawing came from his life with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to new websites, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of the internet, Mr Furie tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows the lack of control over imagery," explains the professor. "They transform and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the association of this meme meant that amphibian imagery became a symbol for conservative politics. A transformation occurred recently, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland went viral.

The moment followed a directive to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was described as "a warzone". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, just outside of a federal building.

The situation was tense and a officer used irritant at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the costume.

The individual, the man in the costume, quipped, stating it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for Portland, known for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that revel in the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and the city, which contended the deployment overstepped authority.

While the court ruled that month that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion the protesters' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes when expressing opposition."

"Some might view this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," she opined. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The order was stopped legally subsequently, and personnel are said to have left the city.

However, by that time, the frog had become a potent symbol of resistance for the left.

This symbol was seen across the country at No Kings protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

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

Shaping the Narrative

What connects both frogs together – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that calls attention to your ideas without directly articulating them. It's the goofy costume used, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and an experienced participant. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

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

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