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The resistance may not be televised, but it could have amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

Whilst protests opposing the leadership continue in US cities, demonstrators are adopting the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided salsa lessons, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, as armed law enforcement watch.

Combining levity and politics – a tactic researchers term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a defining feature of protests in the United States in recent years, used by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It originated after recordings of a confrontation between a protester in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, went viral. From there, it proliferated to rallies nationwide.

"There is much going on with that little inflatable frog," says an expert, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who specialises in performance art.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog co-opted by extremist movements throughout a political race.

When the character first took off on the internet, people used it to express specific feelings. Later, its use evolved to express backing for a candidate, even a particular image shared by that figure himself, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Online conservatives traded "rare Pepes" and established digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a coded signal.

Yet its beginnings were not this divisive.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

Pepe first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he explained his drawing was inspired by his experiences with companions.

Early in his career, the artist experimented with sharing his art to the nascent social web, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into darker parts of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that we don't control imagery," says the professor. "They transform and be repurposed."

Previously, the association of Pepe meant that frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. This shifted on a day in October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland captured global attention.

The moment followed a directive to send military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, just outside of a federal building.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer used irritant at the individual, aiming directly into the opening of the costume.

The individual, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, remarking he had tasted "spicier tamales". However, the video spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that embrace the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume became part of in a lawsuit between the federal government and Portland, which contended the use of troops was illegal.

While a ruling was issued in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for using unusual attire when expressing dissent."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge opined. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and troops withdrew from the city.

Yet already, the frog had transformed into a powerful symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

This symbol was spotted in many cities at No Kings protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

This item was in high demand on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Narrative

What brings both frogs together – is the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "disarming and charming" display that calls attention to a message without explicitly stating them. This is the goofy costume used, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He authored a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

As activists confront a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences