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

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

As rallies against the administration persist in American cities, participants are utilizing the vibe of a local block party. They've provided dance instruction, handed out treats, and performed on unicycles, while officers watch.

Blending comedy and political action – a tactic social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of protests in the United States in recent years, embraced by both left and right.

And one symbol has risen to become particularly salient – the frog. It originated after a video of a clash between an individual in a frog suit and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations across the country.

"A great deal happening with that small frog costume," states an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in political performance.

The Path From Pepe to Portland

It is difficult to examine demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by online communities during a previous presidential campaign.

When the character initially spread on the internet, people used it to signal specific feelings. Subsequently, it was deployed to express backing for a political figure, including one notable meme shared by the candidate himself, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed an inside joke.

However its beginnings were not as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has stated about his unhappiness for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his creation, he said the character came from his experiences with companions.

When he began, the artist tried uploading his work to the nascent social web, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It shows the lack of control over icons," says Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reworked."

Until recently, the association of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. This shifted recently, when an incident between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

The moment came just days after a directive to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to gather in droves outside a facility, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and a officer sprayed a chemical agent at the individual, targeting the opening of the inflatable suit.

The individual, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating he had tasted "something milder". Yet the footage became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for the city, famous for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that embrace the absurd – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol was also referenced in a lawsuit between the administration and the city, which contended the deployment overstepped authority.

While a ruling was issued that month that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes while voicing dissent."

"Some might view this decision, 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 order was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and personnel withdrew from the area.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had transformed into a powerful protest icon for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was seen across the country at No Kings protests last autumn. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

The inflatable suit was sold out on online retailers, and rose in price.

Shaping the Visual Story

The link between both frogs together – lies in the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – often silly, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights a cause without needing directly articulating them. This is the unusual prop you wear, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst in the subject and a veteran practitioner. 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 indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

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