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The protest movement won't be televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

While rallies against the government continue in American cities, protesters have embraced the vibe of a community costume parade. They have taught salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and performed on unicycles, while officers watch.

Mixing humour and political action – a strategy researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of protests in the United States in recent years, used by both left and right.

A specific icon has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It originated when recordings of a confrontation between a man in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations across the country.

"A great deal at play with that small inflatable frog," says a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies creative activism.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by extremist movements during a political race.

As the character gained popularity on the internet, its purpose was to express specific feelings. Later, it was utilized to endorse a political figure, even a particular image shared by that figure personally, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Users traded "unique frog images" and established digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became an inside joke.

Yet its beginnings were not so controversial.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his disapproval for its appropriation. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

The frog debuted in an online comic in 2005 – non-political and best known for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he said the character was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of online spaces, the creator attempted to distance himself from the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that we don't control icons," states the professor. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

Until recently, the association of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to conservative politics. But that changed on a day in October, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The event followed a decision to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to gather in droves on a single block, just outside of a federal building.

The situation was tense and a officer used pepper spray at a protester, directing it into the opening of the costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, remarking he had tasted "something milder". But the incident became a sensation.

The costume fit right in for the city, famous for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that revel in the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog was also referenced in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and the city, which claimed the use of troops was illegal.

While a judge decided in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning the protesters' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits when expressing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge opined. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The order was stopped legally soon after, and personnel withdrew from the city.

Yet already, the amphibian costume had transformed into a powerful protest icon for the left.

The inflatable suit appeared in many cities at No Kings protests that fall. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

This item was sold out on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Narrative

The link between both frogs together – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that calls attention to a cause without needing explicitly stating them. This is the silly outfit used, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a book on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

The purpose of such tactics is three-fold, he says.

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