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The resistance may not be broadcast, though it may feature amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

As protests against the leadership carry on in US cities, participants are utilizing the vibe of a community costume parade. They have taught salsa lessons, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, as police watch.

Combining comedy and political action – an approach experts term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in the current era, used by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It began after video footage of a clash between a man in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. It subsequently appeared to protests throughout the United States.

"There is much happening with that humble frog costume," notes an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in creative activism.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by online communities during a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the character gained popularity online, it was used to express certain emotions. Afterwards, it was utilized to show support for a political figure, including one notable meme endorsed by that figure himself, portraying Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a hate group member. Online conservatives traded "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed a shared phrase.

Yet its beginnings were not as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in his series.

Pepe debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he said the character came from his life with friends and roommates.

When he began, the artist tried uploading his work to new websites, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of the internet, the creator tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates that we don't control symbols," explains the professor. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

Until recently, the association of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. This shifted in early October, when a confrontation between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland spread rapidly online.

This incident came just days after a decision to send military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to congregate outside a facility, just outside of an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer deployed a chemical agent at the individual, directing it into the air intake fan of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, quipped, remarking he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage became a sensation.

The costume fit right in for Portland, known for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that embrace the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume even played a role in a lawsuit between the federal government and Portland, which contended the deployment overstepped authority.

Although a judge decided in October that the president had the right to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning demonstrators' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire when expressing dissent."

"It is easy to see the court's opinion, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber opined. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The order was halted by courts subsequently, and troops have reportedly departed the area.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume was now a potent symbol of resistance for the left.

This symbol was seen nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in small towns and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was sold out on online retailers, and rose in price.

Mastering the Narrative

What brings the two amphibian symbols – is the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" act that draws focus to a message without obviously explaining them. It's the silly outfit used, or the meme circulated.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He authored a book on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

The theory of such tactics is multi-faceted, he explains.

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