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The revolution won't be broadcast, yet it might possess webbed feet and large eyes.

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

While rallies opposing the government carry on in US cities, participants are utilizing the spirit of a local block party. They have taught dance instruction, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, while armed law enforcement look on.

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

And one symbol has emerged as especially powerful – the frog. It began after recordings of a confrontation between a protester in an inflatable frog 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," notes LM Bogad, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on creative activism.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by far-right groups during a previous presidential campaign.

As the meme first took off on the internet, people used it to signal specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to show support for a political figure, including a particular image shared by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Online conservatives traded "unique frog images" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became an inside joke.

However its beginnings were not this divisive.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has been vocal about his unhappiness for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

Pepe first appeared in comic strips in the mid-2000s – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to take back of his work, he explained the character came from his life with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to the nascent social web, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into darker parts of online spaces, the creator attempted to distance himself from the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over icons," explains the professor. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the popularity of this meme resulted in amphibian imagery were largely associated with the right. But that changed in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland went viral.

This incident occurred shortly after a decision to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to gather in droves at a specific location, near a federal building.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer used irritant at the individual, targeting the air intake fan of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, remarking he had tasted "spicier tamales". But the incident became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for Portland, renowned for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that revel in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog was also referenced in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and the city, which claimed the use of troops was illegal.

While a judge decided in October that the president had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," she stated. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

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

Yet already, the frog was now a significant protest icon for progressive movements.

The costume was seen nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

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

Mastering the Optics

What connects both frogs together – lies in the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that draws focus to a cause without directly articulating them. This is the unusual prop you wear, or the meme circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and an experienced participant. He authored a text on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and still have plausible deniability."

The idea of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad says.

When activists take on authority, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences