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This resistance isn't televised, but it could have webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

Whilst rallies opposing the leadership persist in US cities, protesters have embraced the energy of a community costume parade. They have taught dance instruction, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, while officers look on.

Combining levity and political action – an approach researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of protests in the United States in this period, adopted by various groups.

One particular emblem has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It originated when recordings of an encounter between an individual in an amphibian costume and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, went viral. From there, it proliferated to protests nationwide.

"There's a lot going on with that little inflatable frog," says an expert, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies creative activism.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to examine demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by online communities during an election cycle.

As the character initially spread on the internet, it was used to convey specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to endorse a political figure, even a particular image shared by the candidate personally, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Online conservatives traded "unique frog images" and set up digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was used an inside joke.

However the character did not originate so controversial.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has been vocal about his distaste for its appropriation. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

This character debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he explained his drawing came from his time with friends and roommates.

When he began, the artist tried uploading his work to new websites, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As its popularity grew into darker parts of online spaces, the creator sought to reject his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own icons," explains Prof Bogad. "They transform and be repurposed."

Until recently, the association of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with the right. This shifted in early October, when a confrontation between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The event occurred shortly after an order to deploy military personnel to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, near a federal building.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer used pepper spray at a protester, aiming directly into the air intake fan of the puffy frog costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, quipped, remarking he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, famous for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that revel in the absurd – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and Portland, which contended the deployment was unlawful.

While a judge decided that month that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits while voicing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber stated. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The action was stopped legally soon after, and troops withdrew from the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had become a potent protest icon for progressive movements.

This symbol appeared across the country at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

This item was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Narrative

What connects Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that highlights your ideas without obviously explaining them. It's the goofy costume used, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

The idea of such tactics is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad explains.

As activists confront the state, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences