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This revolution isn't broadcast, but it could have amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

While rallies against the government persist in US cities, demonstrators are adopting the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They have taught salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, as armed law enforcement observe.

Blending comedy and politics – a strategy experts term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of American protest in recent years, embraced by both left and right.

One particular emblem has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It originated after video footage of an encounter between a man in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. It subsequently appeared to protests nationwide.

"A great deal going on with that humble blow-up amphibian," says an expert, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who studies performance art.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to examine protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by online communities throughout a previous presidential campaign.

When this image initially spread on the internet, it was used to signal specific feelings. Afterwards, its use evolved to express backing for a political figure, even one notable meme retweeted by the candidate personally, portraying Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, as a hate group member. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used an inside joke.

But its beginnings were not so controversial.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for its co-option. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in comic strips in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his creation, he stated the character was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

When he began, the artist tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into darker parts of the internet, Mr Furie sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves the lack of control over imagery," says Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the popularity of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. This shifted on a day in October, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The event occurred shortly after a decision to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and an agent deployed irritant at a protester, targeting the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

The protester, the man in the costume, quipped, saying he had tasted "something milder". But the incident spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that delight in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol became part of in a lawsuit between the administration and Portland, which argued the use of troops overstepped authority.

While the court ruled in October that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes when expressing their disagreement."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge wrote. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked just a month later, and troops have reportedly departed the area.

Yet already, the amphibian costume had transformed into a powerful symbol of resistance for the left.

The inflatable suit was spotted nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests recently. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was backordered on online retailers, and rose in price.

Controlling the Optics

What brings the two amphibian symbols – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" act that calls attention to your ideas without explicitly stating them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

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

As protesters confront authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences