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The revolution isn't televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

It also might feature a unicorn's horn or the plumage of a chicken.

As protests against the administration continue in American cities, protesters are utilizing the spirit of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, as armed law enforcement watch.

Combining comedy and politics – an approach experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of protests in the United States in recent years, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It began when recordings of a confrontation between an individual in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in the city of Portland, went viral. And it has since spread to demonstrations across the country.

"There is much at play with that little frog costume," notes a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a web comic frog adopted by extremist movements during an election cycle.

As the meme initially spread online, people used it to signal specific feelings. Afterwards, it was utilized to express backing for a candidate, including a particular image retweeted by that figure himself, showing the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in darker contexts, as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a coded signal.

However Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his unhappiness for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

The frog debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his work, he explained the character came from his time with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of online spaces, the creator tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that we don't control imagery," states the professor. "They transform and be repurposed."

Previously, the notoriety of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. A transformation occurred recently, when an incident between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident followed a directive to deploy military personnel to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to gather in droves at a specific location, just outside of an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an agent deployed pepper spray at a protester, directing it into the opening of the inflatable suit.

The protester, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, remarking it tasted like "spicier tamales". Yet the footage went viral.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for the city, famous for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that delight in the ridiculous – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the use of troops was unlawful.

While a judge decided in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "propensity for wearing chicken suits when expressing their disagreement."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The order was stopped legally just a month later, and troops have reportedly departed the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had become a potent protest icon for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was spotted across the country at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in small towns and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Visual Story

What connects Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that highlights a message without needing obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit used, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a book on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

As activists confront authority, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences