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The resistance isn't broadcast, yet it might possess amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

While demonstrations against the government continue in US cities, demonstrators are utilizing the energy of a community costume parade. They've provided salsa lessons, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, while officers observe.

Combining comedy and politics – a tactic researchers call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in recent years, used by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It originated when a video of a confrontation between an individual in an amphibian costume and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, spread online. And it has since spread to demonstrations nationwide.

"A great deal happening with that little frog costume," says an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by extremist movements throughout an election cycle.

When this image initially spread online, people used it to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, it was utilized to express backing for a candidate, including a particular image retweeted by that figure personally, showing the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Online conservatives traded "unique frog images" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", became an inside joke.

However the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his unhappiness for its co-option. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

Pepe first appeared in comic strips in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which follows Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his work, he explained the character was inspired by his time with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to new websites, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves the lack of control over symbols," explains Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reworked."

Previously, the association of this meme meant that frogs were largely associated with the right. A transformation occurred recently, when a viral moment between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The moment followed a decision to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was described as "a warzone". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, near a federal building.

Tensions were high and an agent sprayed pepper spray at a protester, directing it into the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, stating it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage went viral.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for the city, known for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and Portland, which contended the deployment overstepped authority.

While a judge decided in October that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning demonstrators' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes while voicing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see the court's opinion, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," she wrote. "However, this ruling is not merely absurd."

The order was halted by courts just a month later, and troops are said to have left the city.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had become a potent symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

This symbol appeared nationwide at No Kings protests that fall. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

This item was sold out on online retailers, and rose in price.

Mastering the Optics

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that draws focus to your ideas without directly articulating them. It's the silly outfit used, or the meme you share.

The professor is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

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