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This revolution may not be broadcast, though it may feature amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

As protests against the administration carry on in US cities, protesters have embraced the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've offered salsa lessons, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, as armed law enforcement watch.

Combining levity and political action – a strategy social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in recent years, used by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It started after video footage of a clash between a protester in an inflatable frog and federal officers in the city of Portland, went viral. From there, it proliferated to protests across the country.

"There's a lot going on with that humble inflatable frog," notes a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies performance art.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by extremist movements during an election cycle.

As the character gained popularity online, people used it to signal specific feelings. Subsequently, it was deployed to endorse a political figure, including one notable meme endorsed by that figure himself, portraying the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, as a hate group member. Users traded "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed an inside joke.

But the character did not originate so controversial.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his disapproval for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

Pepe debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his creation, he explained the character came from his time with companions.

As he started out, the artist tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over imagery," says Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reworked."

Until recently, the association of this meme resulted in amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to conservative politics. A transformation occurred in early October, when a confrontation between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The event came just days after a decision to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, near an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer used pepper spray at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the puffy frog costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, saying he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

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

The costume was also referenced in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and the city, which argued the use of troops was unlawful.

While a ruling was issued in October that the president had the right to deploy troops, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes when expressing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The deployment was stopped legally soon after, and personnel withdrew from the city.

But by then, the frog had transformed into a potent anti-administration symbol for the left.

The inflatable suit appeared across the country at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was in high demand on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Narrative

The link between Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the interplay between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy is based on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that highlights a message without explicitly stating them. It's the silly outfit used, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a book on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent a little bit and still have plausible deniability."

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

As activists take on authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences