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This revolution isn't broadcast, but it could have amphibious toes and large eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

Whilst protests against the administration continue in American cities, demonstrators have embraced the energy of a local block party. They've provided salsa lessons, distributed treats, and ridden unicycles, while police watch.

Blending humour and politics – a tactic social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in recent years, adopted by both left and right.

One particular emblem has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It started when a video of a clash between an individual in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. It subsequently appeared to protests throughout the United States.

"There is much happening with that small blow-up amphibian," notes LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in political performance.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by extremist movements during a previous presidential campaign.

As the meme initially spread on the internet, people used it to convey certain emotions. Subsequently, its use evolved to endorse a candidate, even one notable meme shared by that figure himself, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users exchanged "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed a shared phrase.

However the character did not originate so controversial.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his disapproval for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

Pepe debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he said his drawing was inspired by his time with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that creators cannot own symbols," says the professor. "They transform and be reworked."

Previously, the notoriety of this meme meant that amphibian imagery became a symbol for the right. But that changed in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland went viral.

The event followed a directive to send military personnel to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Activists began to gather in droves on a single block, just outside of an ICE office.

Tensions were high and an agent deployed irritant at the individual, directing it into the air intake fan of the puffy frog costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, remarking it tasted like "something milder". But the incident became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, renowned for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that embrace the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume became part of in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which claimed the use of troops was unlawful.

While a ruling was issued in October that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire when expressing opposition."

"It is easy to see the majority's ruling, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," she stated. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The action was stopped legally just a month later, and personnel withdrew from the city.

But by then, the frog had become a powerful symbol of resistance for the left.

The costume was seen across the country at No Kings protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

This item was backordered on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Optics

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

This approach relies on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that draws focus to a message 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 authored a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

The purpose of such tactics is multi-faceted, he says.

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