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The revolution won't be televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations opposing the leadership carry on in American cities, protesters are utilizing the vibe of a community costume parade. They've offered salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and performed on unicycles, as officers watch.

Blending comedy and politics – an approach experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of American protest in this period, used by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It began after a video of an encounter between a man in an inflatable frog and federal officers in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to demonstrations across the country.

"There is much at play with that humble frog costume," says LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on creative activism.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to discuss protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by online communities during a political race.

When this image first took off online, people used it to convey specific feelings. Afterwards, it was utilized to express backing for a candidate, even one notable meme retweeted by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed a shared phrase.

However the character did not originate this divisive.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his distaste for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in his series.

Pepe first appeared in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a particular bathroom habit. A film, which chronicles the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he stated his drawing came from his life with friends and roommates.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over symbols," says Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reworked."

Previously, the notoriety of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to conservative politics. But that changed on a day in October, when a confrontation between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

This incident came just days after a directive to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to congregate on a single block, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and a officer sprayed pepper spray at the individual, directing it into the opening of the puffy frog costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, quipped, remarking it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage became a sensation.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that delight in the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume was also referenced in a lawsuit between the administration and Portland, which argued the deployment was illegal.

While 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 wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."

"Some might view this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," she opined. "However, this ruling is not merely absurd."

The order was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and personnel have reportedly departed the area.

However, by that time, the frog was now a significant symbol of resistance for the left.

The costume appeared across the country at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

The frog costume was sold out on major websites, and rose in price.

Shaping the Optics

What connects both frogs together – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that draws focus to your ideas without obviously explaining them. This is the goofy costume used, or the symbol you share.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

As protesters confront a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences