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The resistance won't be broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and large eyes.

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

Whilst rallies opposing the government carry on in US cities, demonstrators are adopting the spirit of a community costume parade. They've provided dance instruction, distributed treats, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement watch.

Combining comedy and politics – a strategy researchers call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a hallmark of American protest in recent years, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It began when recordings of a confrontation between a protester in a frog suit and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations across the country.

"There's a lot going on with that little frog costume," states a professor, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in political performance.

From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to examine protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by online communities during an election cycle.

Initially, when this image gained popularity online, people used it to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, it was deployed to express backing for a candidate, even one notable meme endorsed by that figure personally, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, as a hate group member. Users traded "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

Yet Pepe didn't start out as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has been vocal about his distaste for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

This character first appeared in comic strips in 2005 – apolitical and famous for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his creation, he explained his drawing was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist tried uploading his work to new websites, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. When the meme proliferated into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves that creators cannot own symbols," explains the professor. "They transform and be repurposed."

For a long time, the popularity of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to conservative politics. But that changed on a day in October, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland went viral.

This incident followed a decision to deploy military personnel to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, near an immigration enforcement facility.

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

The protester, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, stating he had tasted "something milder". Yet the footage went viral.

The frog suit was not too unusual for Portland, renowned for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that delight in the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol was also referenced in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and the city, which claimed the deployment was illegal.

Although the court ruled in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, mentioning the protesters' "propensity for wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."

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

The deployment was stopped legally subsequently, and personnel withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the frog was now a significant anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The costume appeared nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. Frogs appeared – 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 backordered on online retailers, and rose in price.

Shaping the Visual Story

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

The tactic is based on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that draws focus to a cause without directly articulating them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

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

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