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The resistance isn't televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

While rallies opposing the administration persist in American cities, protesters have embraced the spirit of a community costume parade. They have taught dance instruction, given away snacks, and performed on unicycles, as officers look on.

Combining levity and politics – an approach social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of American protest in recent years, embraced by both left and right.

One particular emblem has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It began when recordings of an encounter between a protester in an inflatable frog and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, spread online. It subsequently appeared to protests throughout the United States.

"There's a lot at play with that humble blow-up amphibian," notes a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who specialises in political performance.

From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's hard to talk about protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by far-right groups throughout an election cycle.

When the character initially spread on the internet, it was used to signal specific feelings. Subsequently, it was utilized to show support for a political figure, including one notable meme shared by that figure personally, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in darker contexts, portrayed as a hate group member. Users traded "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

But its beginnings were not this divisive.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his distaste for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

Pepe debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he stated his drawing came from his time with friends and roommates.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that we don't control symbols," explains Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Until recently, the popularity of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. But that changed on a day in October, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The moment followed a directive to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Activists began to congregate on a single block, just outside of an ICE office.

The situation was tense and an agent sprayed irritant at the individual, targeting the air intake fan of the costume.

The protester, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, remarking he had tasted "something milder". Yet the footage became a sensation.

The frog suit fit right in for Portland, famous for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that embrace the absurd – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which claimed the use of troops was unlawful.

Although a ruling was issued that month that the president had the right to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes when expressing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge opined. "However, this ruling is not merely absurd."

The action was stopped legally soon after, and personnel withdrew from the area.

Yet already, the amphibian costume was now a powerful symbol of resistance for the left.

The inflatable suit appeared nationwide at No Kings protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in small towns and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Visual Story

The link between the two amphibian symbols – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that draws focus to a message without directly articulating them. This is the goofy costume you wear, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and an experienced participant. He's written a book on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, he says.

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