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The resistance may not be broadcast, but it could have amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

As protests opposing the leadership continue in American cities, participants are adopting the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've offered dance instruction, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, while police look on.

Blending comedy and political action – an approach researchers term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a hallmark of US demonstrations in this period, adopted by both left and right.

One particular emblem has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It started when recordings of an encounter between an individual in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations throughout the United States.

"There is much going on with that humble frog costume," says an expert, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on performance art.

From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to examine protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by extremist movements during an election cycle.

When the character first took off on the internet, it was used to convey certain emotions. Later, its use evolved to show support for a candidate, even a particular image endorsed 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. Users exchanged "unique frog images" and set up digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

But the character did not originate this divisive.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his disapproval for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

Pepe debuted in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he stated his drawing came from his time with companions.

Early in his career, the artist tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of online spaces, the creator tried to disavow his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves the lack of control over imagery," says Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the popularity of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. But that changed recently, when an incident between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

The moment followed a decision to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, just outside of a federal building.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer deployed a chemical agent at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The protester, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, saying he had tasted "something milder". However, the video went viral.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for Portland, renowned for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that revel in the absurd – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume became part of in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and the city, which argued the use of troops overstepped authority.

While a judge decided in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning demonstrators' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits while voicing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber stated. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked just a month later, and troops withdrew from the city.

Yet already, the frog was now a significant symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The costume was seen nationwide at No Kings protests recently. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

The frog costume was backordered on major websites, and rose in price.

Shaping the Visual Story

What connects both frogs together – is the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The strategy is based on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" display that highlights your ideas without explicitly stating them. This is the unusual prop you wear, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

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