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The revolution won't be televised, but it could have webbed feet and bulging eyes.

Additionally, it could include the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

As rallies against the government continue in American cities, protesters are adopting the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided salsa lessons, given away snacks, and ridden unicycles, while police observe.

Combining comedy and politics – a strategy social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a hallmark of protests in the United States in this period, adopted by both left and right.

And one symbol has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It originated when recordings of a clash between a man in a frog suit and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, went viral. It subsequently appeared to rallies throughout the United States.

"A great deal going on with that humble frog costume," says a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on creative activism.

The Path From Pepe to Portland

It's challenging to examine protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by extremist movements throughout a previous presidential campaign.

As the meme gained popularity online, its purpose was to signal specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to show support for a candidate, including one notable meme retweeted by that figure personally, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became a coded signal.

However the character did not originate this divisive.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his distaste for its co-option. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

The frog debuted in comic strips in 2005 – non-political and best known for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which follows Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his work, he stated his drawing was inspired by his time with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to new websites, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of the internet, the creator sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that creators cannot own imagery," says Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reworked."

Previously, the notoriety of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. But that changed recently, when an incident between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The event followed a directive to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, near an ICE office.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer used a chemical agent at the individual, directing it into the ventilation of the costume.

The individual, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, saying it tasted like "something milder". But the incident spread everywhere.

The frog suit was not too unusual for Portland, known for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that embrace the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog even played a role in a lawsuit between the administration and Portland, which contended the use of troops was illegal.

While a ruling was issued in October that the president had the right to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire when expressing dissent."

"It is easy to see this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The action was stopped legally subsequently, and personnel have reportedly departed the area.

However, by that time, the frog had become a significant protest icon for the left.

The inflatable suit was seen in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests recently. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was backordered on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Optics

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

This approach rests on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "disarming and charming" act that highlights a message without needing obviously explaining them. It's the goofy costume you wear, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

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

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