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The revolution isn't televised, though it may feature webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

While protests opposing the leadership persist in US cities, participants have embraced the spirit of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, distributed treats, and performed on unicycles, as police look on.

Mixing comedy and political action – an approach researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of American protest in this period, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It started after recordings of a clash between an individual in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. From there, it proliferated to rallies across the country.

"A great deal going on with that humble blow-up amphibian," states an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in performance art.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by extremist movements throughout a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the meme first took off online, it was used to express specific feelings. Later, its use evolved to endorse a political figure, including one notable meme retweeted by that figure himself, showing Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in offensive ways, as a hate group member. Users traded "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was used a coded signal.

But Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his disapproval for its appropriation. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

The frog debuted in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he stated the character came from his time with companions.

When he began, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to the nascent social web, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves that creators cannot own icons," explains Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reworked."

Until recently, the notoriety of Pepe meant that frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. But that changed recently, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The moment came just days after a decision to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to congregate outside a facility, just outside of a federal building.

Tensions were high and an agent sprayed irritant at a protester, targeting the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, quipped, remarking it tasted like "something milder". But the incident spread everywhere.

The costume was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that revel in the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog became part of in a lawsuit between the administration and Portland, which argued the deployment overstepped authority.

While the court ruled in October that the administration had the right to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes when expressing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber stated. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The deployment was stopped legally just a month later, and personnel have reportedly departed the city.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had become a potent symbol of resistance for the left.

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

The frog costume was in high demand on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Visual Story

The link between both frogs together – lies in the interplay between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that highlights a cause without needing obviously explaining them. It's the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol you share.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He authored 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 speak the truth indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

The theory of such tactics is multi-faceted, he explains.

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