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The protest movement won't be televised, though it may feature webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations against the administration persist in American cities, participants have embraced the vibe of a local block party. They have taught dance instruction, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, while police observe.

Blending comedy and politics – a strategy researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in recent years, adopted by both left and right.

And one symbol has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It originated when recordings of an encounter between an individual in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. And it has since spread to rallies nationwide.

"A great deal at play with that humble blow-up amphibian," notes an expert, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in creative activism.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to talk about protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by extremist movements during an election cycle.

When this image initially spread on the internet, people used it to express specific feelings. Later, its use evolved to show support for a political figure, including one notable meme shared by that figure personally, portraying Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a shared phrase.

However its beginnings were not as a political symbol.

Its creator, the illustrator, has expressed about his unhappiness for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his creation, he said the character came from his time with companions.

As he started out, the artist experimented with uploading his work to new websites, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of the internet, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It proves the lack of control over imagery," explains the professor. "They can change and shift and be reworked."

Previously, the association of Pepe meant that frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. But that changed recently, when a confrontation between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland spread rapidly online.

The event followed a directive to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Protesters began to congregate outside a facility, just outside of a federal building.

The situation was tense and an agent used pepper spray at the individual, directing it into the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

The protester, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, saying he had tasted "something milder". But the incident became a sensation.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that embrace the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog became part of in a lawsuit between the federal government and Portland, which contended the deployment overstepped authority.

Although a ruling was issued that month that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, one judge dissented, mentioning the protesters' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes while voicing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber stated. "However, this ruling is not merely absurd."

The deployment was stopped legally soon after, and personnel withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had transformed into a significant anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The costume was spotted in many cities at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Optics

What brings both frogs together – lies in the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that highlights your ideas without needing explicitly stating them. This is the goofy costume used, or the symbol you share.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The theory of such tactics is three-fold, he explains.

As activists take on a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences