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This resistance may not be broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

As demonstrations opposing the leadership persist in US cities, protesters are adopting the vibe of a community costume parade. They have taught salsa lessons, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, while police observe.

Blending humour and politics – an approach experts term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of protests in the United States in the current era, used by various groups.

A specific icon has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It originated when video footage of a confrontation between an individual in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to demonstrations throughout the United States.

"There is much happening with that small frog costume," notes a professor, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on performance art.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to examine protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a web comic frog embraced by extremist movements during an election cycle.

Initially, when this image first took off online, its purpose was to express certain emotions. Subsequently, it was deployed to express backing for a political figure, even a particular image shared by the candidate himself, showing Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in offensive ways, as a historical dictator. Users traded "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", became a coded signal.

Yet the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Its creator, the illustrator, has been vocal about his unhappiness for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – non-political and best known for a quirky behavior. A film, which chronicles the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he explained his drawing was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of the internet, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves that creators cannot own icons," explains Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

For a long time, the association of this meme meant that frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. This shifted in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident followed a directive to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was described as "a warzone". Demonstrators began to congregate at a specific location, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and an agent sprayed pepper spray at a protester, directing it into the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

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

The costume fit right in for Portland, known for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that delight in the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and Portland, which contended the deployment was unlawful.

Although a judge decided in October that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "known tendency for using unusual attire when expressing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge opined. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The action was "permanently" blocked soon after, and personnel withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume was now a significant protest icon for progressive movements.

This symbol was seen in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was backordered on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Visual Story

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that draws focus to a message without needing directly articulating them. It's the goofy costume used, or the symbol you share.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a text on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

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

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