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This resistance isn't televised, but it could have amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations against the leadership carry on in US cities, demonstrators are adopting the energy of a local block party. They have taught dance instruction, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, while police look on.

Combining comedy and political action – a strategy experts call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a defining feature of American protest 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 a frog suit and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, spread online. And it has since spread to rallies throughout the United States.

"A great deal going on with that little frog costume," says a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who specialises in political performance.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's hard to discuss protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by extremist movements during a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the character first took off online, its purpose was to express specific feelings. Subsequently, its use evolved to endorse a political figure, including a particular image shared by that figure himself, portraying Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", became a shared phrase.

But the character did not originate this divisive.

Its creator, the illustrator, has stated about his unhappiness for its co-option. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

The frog debuted in an online comic in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. A film, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his work, he said his drawing was inspired by his time with companions.

When he began, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to new websites, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As its popularity grew into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that we don't control imagery," states Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

Until recently, the popularity of this meme resulted in frogs were largely associated with the right. A transformation occurred in early October, when a viral moment between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland captured global attention.

The moment occurred shortly after a decision to send military personnel to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to congregate at a specific location, just outside of an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer sprayed irritant at the individual, aiming directly into the opening of the inflatable suit.

The protester, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage went viral.

The costume was not too unusual for the city, famous for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that delight in the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which argued the use of troops overstepped authority.

Although a judge decided in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, one judge dissented, mentioning demonstrators' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits when expressing their disagreement."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," she opined. "But today's decision has serious implications."

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

Yet already, the amphibian costume was now a potent symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit appeared in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was backordered on major websites, and rose in price.

Shaping the Optics

The link between the two amphibian symbols – lies in the relationship between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it acts as a "disarming and charming" act that highlights your ideas without directly articulating them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and an experienced participant. He authored a book on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

The purpose of such tactics is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad says.

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