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This revolution may not be televised, but it could have webbed feet and large eyes.

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

As protests opposing the leadership persist in US cities, participants have embraced the energy of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, as police watch.

Combining comedy and political action – a tactic researchers term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of US demonstrations in recent years, adopted by various groups.

One particular emblem has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It began after video footage of a clash between a protester in an inflatable frog and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to protests nationwide.

"There's a lot at play with that humble inflatable frog," notes a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in creative activism.

The Path From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by far-right groups throughout a political race.

When the meme first took off online, people used it to signal specific feelings. Afterwards, its use evolved to show support for a political figure, even a particular image endorsed by that figure personally, showing the frog with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, as a historical dictator. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", was deployed a shared phrase.

However Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his distaste for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

Pepe debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and best known for a quirky behavior. A film, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his creation, he stated his drawing came from his time with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist tried uploading his work to new websites, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that creators cannot own symbols," states the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the association of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with the right. This shifted on a day in October, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland spread rapidly online.

The event followed a directive to send the National Guard to the city, which was called "a warzone". Activists began to congregate on a single block, near an immigration enforcement facility.

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

The protester, Seth Todd, quipped, stating it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident became a sensation.

The frog suit was not too unusual for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that delight in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog became part of in a lawsuit between the administration and the city, which claimed the deployment was unlawful.

Although a judge decided that month that the president had the right to send personnel, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "propensity for wearing chicken suits while voicing their disagreement."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," she 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.

But by then, the frog was now a potent anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The costume was seen across the country at anti-authoritarian protests recently. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

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

Shaping the Narrative

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that calls attention to your ideas without needing directly articulating them. It's the silly outfit used, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a book on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The theory of this approach is three-fold, he explains.

As protesters confront the state, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences