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This revolution isn't broadcast, but it could have webbed feet and large eyes.

It also might feature a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

While demonstrations opposing the administration continue in US cities, protesters are adopting the vibe of a community costume parade. They've provided salsa lessons, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, as officers look on.

Combining humour and political action – an approach researchers call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a signature characteristic of American protest in recent years, adopted by both left and right.

One particular emblem has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It started when video footage of an encounter between a protester in an inflatable frog and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, went viral. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations throughout the United States.

"A great deal at play with that little inflatable frog," notes a professor, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies creative activism.

The Path From Pepe to Portland

It's challenging to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by extremist movements during an election cycle.

Initially, when the character initially spread on the internet, its purpose was to express certain emotions. Subsequently, it was deployed to express backing for a candidate, even a particular image endorsed by that figure himself, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Users traded "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was deployed a coded signal.

But the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has been vocal about his disapproval for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

Pepe debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – non-political and best known for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his creation, he stated his drawing was inspired by his time with companions.

As he started out, the artist experimented with sharing his art to new websites, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows that we don't control imagery," explains the professor. "They transform and be reworked."

Previously, the notoriety of Pepe meant that frogs were largely associated with the right. This shifted recently, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland spread rapidly online.

The moment occurred shortly after a decision to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Protesters began to congregate on a single block, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and an agent deployed pepper spray at the individual, aiming directly into the opening of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, saying it tasted like "spicier tamales". However, the video spread everywhere.

The frog suit fit right in for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that delight in the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol was also referenced in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and the city, which claimed the use of troops overstepped authority.

Although the court ruled that month that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "well-known penchant for donning inflatable costumes when expressing opposition."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber stated. "But today's decision has serious implications."

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

Yet already, the frog had transformed into a powerful protest icon for the left.

The costume was seen in many cities at No Kings protests recently. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was backordered on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Shaping the Optics

What brings the two amphibian symbols – is the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that calls attention to a message without needing directly articulating them. This is the unusual prop used, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He's written a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The purpose of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

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