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The resistance isn't televised, but it could have webbed feet and bulging eyes.

It also might feature a unicorn's horn or the plumage of a chicken.

Whilst demonstrations opposing the administration continue in US cities, participants are utilizing the energy of a local block party. They've provided salsa lessons, distributed treats, and ridden unicycles, as police look on.

Mixing levity and political action – an approach experts call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a hallmark of US demonstrations in recent years, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It started after video footage of a clash between an individual in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations across the country.

"There is much happening with that humble inflatable frog," says LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on creative activism.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to examine protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by far-right groups throughout an election cycle.

When this image first took off on the internet, it was used to convey specific feelings. Later, it was utilized to endorse a political figure, even a particular image endorsed by that figure himself, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was deployed an inside joke.

However Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has been vocal about his disapproval for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he stated his drawing came from his life with friends and roommates.

As he started out, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that we don't control icons," states the professor. "They transform and be reclaimed."

Previously, the association of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to conservative politics. But that changed in early October, when an incident between a protestor dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

This incident came just days after a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to congregate at a specific location, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer sprayed pepper spray at the individual, targeting the ventilation of the costume.

The individual, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, remarking he had tasted "something milder". But the incident became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for Portland, known for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that delight in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume was also referenced in a lawsuit between the federal government and Portland, which argued the use of troops was unlawful.

Although the court ruled that month that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for using unusual attire when expressing opposition."

"It is easy to see the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge stated. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The action was halted by courts just a month later, and personnel are said to have left the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had transformed into a significant anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

This symbol appeared across the country at No Kings protests recently. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

This item was backordered on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Optics

What connects both frogs together – is the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" act that calls attention to a message without directly articulating them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The purpose of this approach is multi-faceted, he explains.

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