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This revolution may not be broadcast, yet it might possess amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

While rallies against the government persist in US cities, protesters have embraced the energy of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, as officers watch.

Combining comedy and politics – a strategy researchers call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a defining feature of US demonstrations in recent years, adopted by both left and right.

And one symbol has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It started when recordings of a confrontation between a protester in a frog suit and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to protests nationwide.

"There is much going on with that small frog costume," says an expert, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on performance art.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to examine demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by extremist movements throughout a political race.

Initially, when the character initially spread online, it was used to express certain emotions. Subsequently, it was utilized to express backing for a candidate, including one notable meme retweeted by the candidate himself, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, as a hate group member. Participants exchanged "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used a coded signal.

But Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Its creator, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for its appropriation. The character was intended as simply an apolitical figure in his series.

Pepe first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he explained the character was inspired by his time with companions.

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 his character. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of online spaces, the creator sought to reject his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves that we don't control symbols," explains the professor. "They transform and be repurposed."

For a long time, the popularity of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to conservative politics. But that changed on a day in October, when an incident between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland spread rapidly online.

This incident came just days after a decision to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to congregate outside a facility, just outside of a federal building.

Emotions ran high and a officer used a chemical agent at the individual, directing it into the opening of the puffy frog costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, quipped, saying it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident went viral.

The costume was somewhat typical for the city, renowned for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that delight in the absurd – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog was also referenced in a lawsuit between the administration and Portland, which contended the use of troops was illegal.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits while voicing dissent."

"It is easy to see this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge wrote. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked soon after, and personnel withdrew from the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had transformed into a powerful protest icon for progressive movements.

This symbol appeared nationwide at No Kings protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was sold out on major websites, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Visual Story

The link between Pepe and the protest frog – is the relationship between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" act that highlights a message without obviously explaining them. It's the goofy costume used, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He authored a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

The purpose of such tactics is three-fold, he explains.

When protesters take on a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences