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The revolution isn't broadcast, yet it might possess amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations against the government carry on in American cities, participants are adopting the energy of a local block party. They have taught dance instruction, given away snacks, and performed on unicycles, while police watch.

Blending comedy and politics – an approach experts call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a hallmark of American protest in recent years, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has risen to become particularly salient – the frog. It started when recordings of a confrontation between a protester in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. And it has since spread to protests across the country.

"There is much happening with that humble inflatable frog," notes an expert, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

From Pepe to Portland

It's hard to examine protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog co-opted by far-right groups throughout a political race.

As this image gained popularity on the internet, it was used to signal certain emotions. Later, it was utilized to express backing for a political figure, even a particular image endorsed by the candidate himself, showing the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in offensive ways, as a historical dictator. Users traded "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed a coded signal.

But its beginnings were not this divisive.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has been vocal about his disapproval for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. A film, which chronicles the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he said the character was inspired by his experiences with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to new websites, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of online spaces, the creator sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own symbols," states the professor. "They transform and be repurposed."

Until recently, the popularity of Pepe meant that frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. But that changed on a day in October, when an incident between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

The moment came just days after a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to congregate on a single block, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer deployed pepper spray at a protester, aiming directly into the opening of the costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, stating it tasted like "something milder". However, the video went viral.

The frog suit fit right in for the city, renowned for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that revel in the absurd – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog even played a role in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which claimed the use of troops was unlawful.

While a judge decided that month that the administration had the right to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire when expressing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber opined. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The action was halted by courts soon after, and troops withdrew from the city.

But by then, the frog had transformed into a powerful symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

This symbol was seen across the country at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

This item was sold out on major websites, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Optics

The link between Pepe and the protest frog – is the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The tactic rests on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" display that draws focus to your ideas without needing obviously explaining them. This is the goofy costume used, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

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