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The revolution may not be broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

As demonstrations opposing the administration persist in US cities, participants have embraced the vibe of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, distributed treats, and performed on unicycles, while armed law enforcement look on.

Mixing comedy and political action – a strategy experts call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of US demonstrations in this period, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It started after video footage of a clash between an individual in a frog suit and federal officers in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to demonstrations throughout the United States.

"A great deal at play with that small inflatable frog," says LM Bogad, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who studies performance art.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by online communities throughout an election cycle.

When the meme gained popularity on the internet, it was used to express specific feelings. Subsequently, it was utilized to express backing for a candidate, even a particular image retweeted by the candidate personally, showing the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used an inside joke.

But the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has expressed about his distaste for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in his comic world.

Pepe first appeared in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. A film, which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he stated his drawing was inspired by his experiences with companions.

When he began, the artist tried uploading his work to new websites, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves that we don't control icons," says Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

For a long time, the association of this meme meant that frogs became a symbol for the right. A transformation occurred on a day in October, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The event came just days after a directive to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Protesters began to congregate on a single block, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and an agent used irritant at the individual, targeting the ventilation of the costume.

The individual, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, saying he had tasted "something milder". But the incident spread everywhere.

The costume was somewhat typical for the city, known for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that delight in the unusual – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which contended the deployment was unlawful.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning demonstrators' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes when expressing opposition."

"It is easy to see this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber stated. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and personnel have reportedly departed the city.

However, by that time, the frog was now a potent symbol of resistance for the left.

The costume appeared in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

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

Shaping the Optics

The link between both frogs together – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The strategy is based on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that highlights a cause without obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

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