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This revolution isn't televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and large eyes.

Additionally, it could include a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

As protests against the government persist in US cities, demonstrators are adopting the spirit of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, handed out treats, and performed on unicycles, while armed law enforcement observe.

Blending humour and political action – an approach researchers term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of American protest in the current era, embraced by various groups.

One particular emblem has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It started after a video of an encounter between a protester in an amphibian costume and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to rallies throughout the United States.

"A great deal going on with that small inflatable frog," states LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies political performance.

The Path From Pepe to Portland

It's hard to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog embraced by extremist movements during a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the character gained popularity on the internet, its purpose was to signal certain emotions. Subsequently, its use evolved to express backing for a political figure, even one notable meme retweeted by the candidate himself, portraying Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, as a hate group member. Online conservatives traded "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used a coded signal.

Yet Pepe didn't start out as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

This character first appeared in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his creation, he stated his drawing came from his life with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of the internet, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves the lack of control over imagery," says the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be reworked."

For a long time, the association of this meme meant that amphibian imagery became a symbol for conservative politics. This shifted recently, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland captured global attention.

The event occurred shortly after an order to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Protesters began to gather in droves outside a facility, near a federal building.

Emotions ran high and an agent deployed a chemical agent at the individual, aiming directly into the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

The protester, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, stating he had tasted "something milder". However, the video spread everywhere.

The frog suit was not too unusual for the city, known for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that delight in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which argued the use of troops was unlawful.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the administration had the right to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning the protesters' "known tendency for using unusual attire while voicing their disagreement."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge wrote. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The deployment was halted by courts soon after, and troops are said to have left the area.

Yet already, the frog was now a powerful anti-administration symbol for the left.

The costume appeared in many cities at No Kings protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

This item was backordered on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Visual Story

What brings both frogs together – lies in the relationship between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" display that draws focus to your ideas without needing directly articulating them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He authored a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

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