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This protest movement isn't broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

As rallies against the government persist in US cities, demonstrators have embraced the spirit of a community costume parade. They've offered salsa lessons, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, as police observe.

Mixing humour and politics – an approach experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a defining feature of protests in the United States in recent years, embraced by various groups.

One particular emblem has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It began after video footage of an encounter between an individual in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. From there, it proliferated to rallies nationwide.

"A great deal at play with that little frog costume," says LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who studies political performance.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to examine protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a web comic frog embraced by online communities throughout an election cycle.

As the meme initially spread online, it was used to convey certain emotions. Later, it was utilized to show support for a political figure, even a particular image endorsed by that figure himself, portraying the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in offensive ways, as a historical dictator. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed a coded signal.

Yet the character did not originate so controversial.

Its creator, 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 comic world.

Pepe first appeared in comic strips in 2005 – apolitical and famous for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he said his drawing was inspired by his experiences with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to the nascent social web, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into darker parts of online spaces, the creator sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It shows the lack of control over symbols," states the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the popularity of Pepe meant that frogs were largely associated with the right. But that changed in early October, when an incident between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland spread rapidly online.

The moment followed a directive to send military personnel to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, just outside of an ICE office.

The situation was tense and an agent sprayed a chemical agent at the individual, targeting the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The individual, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, remarking it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage went viral.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for Portland, renowned for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that embrace the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which claimed the use of troops overstepped authority.

While a judge decided that month that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion the protesters' "propensity for using unusual attire while voicing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber stated. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The order was "permanently" blocked soon after, and personnel withdrew from the area.

Yet already, the amphibian costume had become a significant protest icon for progressive movements.

This symbol was spotted in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

The inflatable suit was sold out on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Narrative

What connects both frogs together – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – often silly, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that highlights your ideas without needing directly articulating them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a book on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The theory of this approach is multi-faceted, he explains.

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