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This protest movement may not be televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and large eyes.

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

While rallies opposing the leadership continue in US cities, protesters are utilizing the spirit of a neighborhood dress-up party. They have taught dance instruction, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, as armed law enforcement observe.

Blending humour and politics – a tactic social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of US demonstrations in the current era, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It started when a video of an encounter between an individual in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations throughout the United States.

"There is much going on with that small inflatable frog," notes LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on performance art.

From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It's hard to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a web comic frog embraced by extremist movements during a previous presidential campaign.

As the meme initially spread on the internet, its purpose was to signal certain emotions. Subsequently, its use evolved to show support for a candidate, including a particular image retweeted by that figure himself, portraying Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and established digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed an inside joke.

However Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has been vocal about his distaste for its appropriation. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

This character first appeared in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he stated his drawing came from his experiences with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist tried sharing his art to new websites, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own icons," explains Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Previously, the popularity of Pepe meant that frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. A transformation occurred on a day in October, when an incident between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The moment occurred shortly after a directive to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Demonstrators began to congregate outside a facility, just outside of an ICE office.

Tensions were high and a officer sprayed pepper spray at a protester, aiming directly into the opening of the costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, stating it tasted like "spicier tamales". However, the video became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, renowned for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that revel in the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which contended the use of troops overstepped authority.

Although the court ruled that month that the president had the right to send personnel, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire when expressing their disagreement."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge wrote. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The action was halted by courts soon after, and personnel have reportedly departed the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had become a significant symbol of resistance for the left.

This symbol was seen across the country at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

This item was backordered on major websites, and rose in price.

Shaping the Visual Story

The link between both frogs together – lies in the interplay between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that calls attention to your ideas without obviously explaining them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', 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 a layer of protection."

The theory of such tactics is three-fold, he says.

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