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This protest movement won't be televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

Whilst rallies opposing the leadership carry on in US cities, protesters are adopting the spirit of a local block party. They've provided dance instruction, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, as police observe.

Blending humour and politics – a tactic researchers call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a hallmark of US demonstrations in the current era, embraced by both left and right.

And one symbol has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It originated when a video of an encounter between a man in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to protests nationwide.

"There's a lot at play with that small frog costume," says LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to talk about protests and frogs without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character embraced by online communities during a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the meme first took off on the internet, it was used to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, its use evolved to endorse a political figure, including a particular image endorsed by that figure himself, showing Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became an inside joke.

However the character did not originate this divisive.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his disapproval for its co-option. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

This character first appeared in an online comic in 2005 – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. A film, which documents the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he said his drawing came from his experiences with companions.

When he began, the artist tried uploading his work to new websites, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into darker parts of the internet, the creator sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that we don't control imagery," says Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the popularity of this meme meant that frogs became a symbol for the right. But that changed in early October, when an incident between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland went viral.

This incident followed a directive to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to congregate at a specific location, just outside of a federal building.

Emotions ran high and an agent used pepper spray at the individual, directing it into the air intake fan of the puffy frog costume.

The protester, the man in the costume, quipped, remarking he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage became a sensation.

The frog suit was not too unusual for the city, renowned for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that embrace the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and Portland, which contended the deployment overstepped authority.

While the court ruled in October that the administration had the right to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire while voicing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see the majority's ruling, which adopts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

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

However, by that time, the frog had become a potent symbol of resistance for the left.

This symbol appeared in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

The frog costume was sold out on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Narrative

What connects both frogs together – is the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that draws focus to your ideas without obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the meme circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and an experienced participant. He authored 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 a little bit and still have plausible deniability."

The theory of such tactics is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad explains.

As activists confront a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences