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This protest movement won't be broadcast, yet it might possess webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

As demonstrations opposing the government carry on in US cities, participants have embraced the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, while police observe.

Combining comedy and politics – a strategy experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in the current era, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It originated after recordings of an encounter between an individual in an amphibian costume and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to rallies throughout the United States.

"There's a lot happening with that little inflatable frog," says an expert, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on performance art.

From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It's hard to examine demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by extremist movements throughout an election cycle.

Initially, when this image gained popularity online, its purpose was to convey specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to endorse a candidate, even one notable meme retweeted by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, as a hate group member. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", became an inside joke.

But its beginnings were not this divisive.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his distaste for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

This character debuted in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. A film, which follows the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he explained his drawing came from his time with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to the nascent social web, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into the more extreme corners of the internet, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that we don't control icons," says the professor. "They can change and shift and be reworked."

For a long time, the popularity of Pepe resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. But that changed recently, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The event came just days after a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, near an ICE office.

Tensions were high and a officer deployed irritant at a protester, aiming directly into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The protester, Seth Todd, quipped, remarking he had tasted "something milder". However, the video spread everywhere.

The costume was not too unusual for the city, famous for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that revel in the absurd – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume was also referenced in a lawsuit between the federal government and Portland, which contended the deployment overstepped authority.

Although a ruling was issued that month that the president was within its rights to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire while voicing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber opined. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The order was "permanently" blocked just a month later, and troops are said to have left the area.

Yet already, the frog was now a powerful symbol of resistance for the left.

The inflatable suit was seen nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was backordered on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Visual Story

What brings the two amphibian symbols – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "disarming and charming" act that draws focus to your ideas without explicitly stating them. It's the unusual prop used, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a text on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

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