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The revolution won't be broadcast, yet it might possess amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

Whilst protests opposing the administration persist in American cities, protesters are utilizing the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided dance instruction, given away snacks, and performed on unicycles, while police watch.

Combining comedy and politics – a strategy experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in recent years, used by both left and right.

One particular emblem has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It originated when video footage of a clash between a protester in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to protests throughout the United States.

"There's a lot at play with that small blow-up amphibian," notes a professor, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

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

Initially, when this image gained popularity on the internet, it was used to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, it was deployed to express backing for a candidate, even a particular image shared by that figure personally, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed a coded signal.

However its beginnings were not as a political symbol.

Its creator, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in his series.

Pepe first appeared in comic strips in 2005 – non-political and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his work, he said his drawing was inspired by his life with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It proves that we don't control symbols," says Prof Bogad. "They transform and be repurposed."

Previously, the popularity of this meme resulted in frogs were predominantly linked to the right. But that changed in early October, when an incident between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

This incident followed an order to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to congregate on a single block, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and a officer used pepper spray at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, quipped, remarking he had tasted "something milder". But the incident spread everywhere.

The frog suit fit right in for the city, famous for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that delight in the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume was also referenced in a lawsuit between the administration and Portland, which argued the use of troops was illegal.

Although a judge decided in October that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "propensity for using unusual attire when expressing their disagreement."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "But today's decision has serious implications."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked soon after, and troops are said to have left the city.

But by then, the frog had become a significant symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

This symbol appeared in many cities at No Kings protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was sold out on major websites, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Narrative

What brings the two amphibian symbols – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it acts as a "disarming and charming" performance that highlights a cause without needing explicitly stating them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a text 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 indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

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

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