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The revolution won't be broadcast, yet it might possess amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

As demonstrations opposing the administration continue in American cities, protesters are utilizing the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided dance instruction, handed out treats, and performed on unicycles, while armed law enforcement look on.

Blending humour and politics – a tactic experts term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of American protest in this period, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It originated after a video of an encounter between an individual in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, went viral. From there, it proliferated to protests nationwide.

"There's a lot at play with that little frog costume," says LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by far-right groups during a political race.

As the meme first took off online, people used it to express specific feelings. Afterwards, it was deployed to endorse a candidate, including a particular image shared by that figure himself, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, portrayed as a hate group member. Online conservatives exchanged "unique frog images" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", became an inside joke.

However its beginnings were not this divisive.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his disapproval for its co-option. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in his series.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – non-political and best known for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he said the character came from his life with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist tried sharing his art to the nascent social web, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into the more extreme corners of online spaces, the creator attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that we don't control symbols," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the popularity of Pepe resulted in frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. But that changed recently, when a viral moment between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident followed a directive to send military personnel to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Activists began to gather in droves outside a facility, near an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and a officer deployed irritant at a protester, aiming directly into the opening of the inflatable suit.

The individual, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, saying it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for Portland, famous for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that revel in the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which contended the deployment was illegal.

Although a judge decided in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, mentioning the protesters' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits while voicing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber opined. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The action was halted by courts just a month later, and troops withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had become a significant protest icon for progressive movements.

This symbol appeared nationwide at No Kings protests recently. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

This item was in high demand on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Shaping the Optics

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that draws focus to your ideas without obviously explaining them. This is the unusual prop used, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He's written a text on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

When protesters confront a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences