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This resistance won't be broadcast, yet it might possess webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

As rallies opposing the administration continue in US cities, participants have embraced the energy of a community costume parade. They've provided salsa lessons, given away snacks, and performed on unicycles, while officers observe.

Blending comedy and politics – an approach experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of American protest in this period, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It began after a video of a clash between an individual in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to protests throughout the United States.

"There is much at play with that small inflatable frog," notes a professor, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on creative activism.

From Pepe to Portland

It is difficult to discuss protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by far-right groups throughout an election cycle.

When the character initially spread online, its purpose was to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, its use evolved to show support for a candidate, including one notable meme shared by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, as a hate group member. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed an inside joke.

However the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has been vocal about his disapproval for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

Pepe debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he stated his drawing was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to new websites, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It proves the lack of control over symbols," explains Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the popularity of this meme meant that frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. But that changed recently, when an incident between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland captured global attention.

This incident came just days after a directive to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to gather in droves at a specific location, just outside of an ICE office.

Tensions were high and an agent sprayed pepper spray at the individual, targeting the opening of the puffy frog costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, saying it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

The frog suit was not too unusual for the city, famous for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and the city, which contended the use of troops was unlawful.

While a judge decided that month that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, mentioning demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire when expressing their disagreement."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," she opined. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was stopped legally just a month later, and personnel are said to have left the area.

Yet already, the amphibian costume was now a powerful symbol of resistance for the left.

The inflatable suit was seen nationwide at No Kings protests recently. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was in high demand on online retailers, and rose in price.

Mastering the Narrative

What brings both frogs together – is the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy is based on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights a cause without obviously explaining them. It's the silly outfit used, or the meme circulated.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, he explains.

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