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The revolution may not be broadcast, but it could have amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

While protests against the leadership persist in American cities, protesters are utilizing the vibe of a community costume parade. They have taught dance instruction, handed out snacks, and performed on unicycles, while police look on.

Mixing comedy and politics – a strategy researchers call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of protests in the United States in this period, used by various groups.

A specific icon has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It started when a video of an encounter between a protester in a frog suit and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, went viral. It subsequently appeared to rallies nationwide.

"There is much happening with that humble inflatable frog," states LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on creative activism.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, a web comic frog co-opted by far-right groups during a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the meme gained popularity on the internet, people used it to convey certain emotions. Later, its use evolved to endorse a political figure, even a particular image shared by that figure himself, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used an inside joke.

However the character did not originate this divisive.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his disapproval for its appropriation. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

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 Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his creation, he said his drawing came from his experiences with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to the nascent social web, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that we don't control icons," states the professor. "They transform and be reclaimed."

Previously, the notoriety of this meme resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. This shifted on a day in October, when an incident between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The moment followed an order to deploy military personnel to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, just outside of a federal building.

Tensions were high and a officer sprayed a chemical agent at the individual, directing it into the opening of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, remarking it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage became a sensation.

The frog suit fit right in for the city, famous for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that embrace the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which argued the deployment overstepped authority.

While the court ruled that month that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, one judge dissented, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits when expressing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge wrote. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

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

Yet already, the frog had become a potent anti-administration symbol for the left.

The costume was spotted in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests recently. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in small towns and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was sold out on online retailers, and rose in price.

Controlling the Visual Story

The link between the two amphibian symbols – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that draws focus to your ideas without directly articulating them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

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

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