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The resistance isn't televised, yet it might possess amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

It also might feature the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

While demonstrations against the leadership continue in US cities, protesters are adopting the spirit of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, given away snacks, and performed on unicycles, as armed law enforcement watch.

Blending levity and politics – a strategy experts term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in recent years, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It began after recordings of a clash between a protester in a frog suit and ICE agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to protests throughout the United States.

"There's a lot happening with that small blow-up amphibian," notes an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in performance art.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to examine demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by far-right groups throughout a previous presidential campaign.

When the meme gained popularity on the internet, it was used to signal certain emotions. Subsequently, its use evolved to endorse a political figure, including a particular image retweeted by that figure personally, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", became an inside joke.

Yet Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his disapproval for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in his series.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he explained his drawing was inspired by his time with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to the nascent social web, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of the internet, the creator sought to reject his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves the lack of control over imagery," says Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reworked."

Previously, the association of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery became a symbol for the right. But that changed recently, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident came just days after an order to send the National Guard to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to gather in droves outside a facility, just outside of a federal building.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer deployed pepper spray at the individual, aiming directly into the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, saying he had tasted "spicier tamales". However, the video went viral.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for the city, known for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that delight in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the deployment was unlawful.

While a ruling was issued that month that the president was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire while voicing their disagreement."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The order was stopped legally subsequently, and personnel are said to have left the city.

Yet already, the amphibian costume was now a potent protest icon for the left.

The costume was seen in many cities at No Kings protests recently. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

This item was backordered on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Narrative

What connects the two amphibian symbols – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that draws focus to your ideas without directly articulating them. It's the unusual prop used, or the symbol you share.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

The theory of such tactics is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad says.

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