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The protest movement won't be televised, but it could have webbed feet and large eyes.

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

Whilst rallies against the leadership carry on in US cities, protesters have embraced the vibe of a community costume parade. They've offered salsa lessons, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement watch.

Mixing comedy and political action – a strategy experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in recent years, used by various groups.

One particular emblem has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It originated when a video of an encounter between a protester in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to rallies throughout the United States.

"There's a lot going on with that little inflatable frog," states a professor, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who specialises in creative activism.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog adopted by extremist movements throughout a political race.

When this image gained popularity online, its purpose was to signal certain emotions. Subsequently, it was deployed to show support for a candidate, including a particular image endorsed by the candidate personally, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed a coded signal.

However the character did not originate this divisive.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

Pepe first appeared in comic strips in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his work, he explained the character was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

As he started out, the artist experimented with uploading his work to new websites, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

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

Previously, the popularity of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. This shifted on a day in October, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

The moment occurred shortly after an order to send the National Guard to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, just outside of an ICE office.

Tensions were high and a officer used pepper spray at the individual, aiming directly into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, stating it tasted like "spicier tamales". However, the video spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol became part of in a lawsuit between the federal government and Portland, which argued the deployment overstepped authority.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes when expressing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge wrote. "Yet the outcome has serious implications."

The order was stopped legally just a month later, and troops have reportedly departed the area.

Yet already, the frog was now a potent protest icon for the left.

The inflatable suit appeared nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Narrative

What connects Pepe and the protest frog – is the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that draws focus to a message without obviously explaining them. It's the goofy costume you wear, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and still have plausible deniability."

The theory of this approach is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad says.

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