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This resistance may not be televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and large eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations opposing the administration persist in US cities, protesters are adopting the spirit of a local block party. They have taught dance instruction, handed out snacks, and performed on unicycles, while officers look on.

Blending levity and political action – a tactic social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in the current era, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It began after video footage of a clash between a protester in a frog suit and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. From there, it proliferated to rallies across the country.

"There's a lot happening with that humble blow-up amphibian," states LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by extremist movements throughout an election cycle.

Initially, when the character initially spread on the internet, people used it to signal certain emotions. Afterwards, it was deployed to endorse a candidate, including one notable meme shared by the candidate personally, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a historical dictator. Online conservatives exchanged "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed a shared phrase.

However its beginnings were not as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his disapproval for its appropriation. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

Pepe debuted in comic strips in 2005 – apolitical and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he explained his drawing was inspired by his life with companions.

Early in his career, the artist experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of the internet, the creator tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over icons," states the professor. "They transform and be repurposed."

Previously, the popularity of Pepe resulted in frogs were predominantly linked to the right. But that changed on a day in October, when an incident between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

This incident followed a decision to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Demonstrators began to congregate outside a facility, just outside of an ICE office.

The situation was tense and an agent sprayed irritant at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the puffy frog costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, saying he had tasted "spicier tamales". But the incident became a sensation.

The costume was not too unusual for the city, renowned for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that revel in the absurd – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume even played a role in a lawsuit between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the deployment was unlawful.

Although a judge decided that month that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes while voicing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," she wrote. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

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

But by then, the frog had become a powerful anti-administration symbol for the left.

The inflatable suit was seen across the country at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was backordered on major websites, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Narrative

What connects both frogs together – lies in the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" act that highlights a cause without needing obviously explaining them. This is the unusual prop you wear, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

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

The purpose of this approach is multi-faceted, he explains.

When activists take on authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences