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This resistance may not be broadcast, though it may feature amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations against the government carry on in US cities, participants have embraced the energy of a community costume parade. They've provided dance instruction, distributed snacks, and ridden unicycles, as police watch.

Mixing levity and political action – a strategy researchers call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of protests in the United States in recent years, adopted by various groups.

And one symbol has risen to become particularly salient – the frog. It originated when a video of a clash between a protester in an inflatable frog and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, went viral. From there, it proliferated to rallies across the country.

"There is much happening with that little blow-up amphibian," notes an expert, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in creative activism.

From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It's hard to discuss protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by extremist movements during a previous presidential campaign.

When the character first took off on the internet, its purpose was to express certain emotions. Later, it was utilized to show support for a political figure, including one notable meme retweeted by the candidate personally, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, as a hate group member. Users traded "unique frog images" and established digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used a coded signal.

But Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

The frog first appeared in comic strips in 2005 – apolitical and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his creation, he said the character was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

As he started out, the artist tried uploading his work to the nascent social web, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

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

For a long time, the notoriety of Pepe resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. A transformation occurred in early October, when a confrontation between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident followed an order to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to congregate outside a facility, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer used irritant at a protester, aiming directly into the opening of the costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, stating he had tasted "something milder". But the incident went viral.

The costume was somewhat typical for the city, renowned for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that embrace the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and Portland, which argued the use of troops was illegal.

While a ruling was issued that month that the president had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion the protesters' "propensity for wearing chicken suits when expressing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," she opined. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The action was "permanently" blocked soon after, and personnel have reportedly departed the area.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had become a potent protest icon for the left.

The costume appeared in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

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

Mastering the Visual Story

The link between Pepe and the protest frog – is the relationship between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that draws focus to your ideas without directly articulating them. This is the goofy costume you wear, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

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

The purpose of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad says.

When activists confront authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences