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This resistance isn't broadcast, yet it might possess webbed feet and protruding eyes.

It also might feature the horn of a unicorn or a chicken's feathers.

While demonstrations against the leadership continue in American cities, participants have embraced the vibe of a local block party. They have taught dance instruction, handed out treats, and performed on unicycles, as officers look on.

Blending comedy and political action – a strategy social scientists 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 all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It began when recordings of an encounter between a man in a frog suit and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to rallies across the country.

"A great deal at play with that little inflatable frog," says an expert, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who studies creative activism.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It is difficult to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by far-right groups during an election cycle.

When the meme gained popularity on the internet, its purpose was to signal specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to endorse a candidate, including a particular image shared by that figure himself, depicting the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and established digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed a coded signal.

But Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his unhappiness for its appropriation. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

This character first appeared in an online comic in 2005 – apolitical and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his work, he stated the character came from his life with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator sought to reject his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that creators cannot own icons," says Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the popularity of this meme meant that frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. But that changed recently, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland spread rapidly online.

This incident followed a decision to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, just outside of a federal building.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer sprayed pepper spray at a protester, targeting the opening of the puffy frog costume.

The protester, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, remarking he had tasted "spicier tamales". However, the video went viral.

The costume was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that embrace the unusual – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog became part of in a lawsuit between the administration and the city, which argued the deployment overstepped authority.

Although a ruling was issued that month that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes while voicing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see the majority's ruling, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," she opined. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The action was halted by courts just a month later, and troops withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the frog was now a significant protest icon for progressive movements.

The costume was seen across the country at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They were in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

This item was in high demand on online retailers, and rose in price.

Shaping the Narrative

What connects both frogs together – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that draws focus to a message without needing explicitly stating them. It's the silly outfit used, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

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

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