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The revolution isn't televised, though it may feature webbed feet and bulging eyes.

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

As rallies opposing the government carry on in US cities, demonstrators are adopting the energy of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, while police watch.

Mixing comedy and political action – a tactic experts call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a hallmark of US demonstrations in the current era, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It started after recordings of an encounter between a protester in an inflatable frog and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. It subsequently appeared to rallies across the country.

"There's a lot going on with that small blow-up amphibian," says 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 discuss protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by extremist movements throughout an election cycle.

When the meme first took off online, it was used to convey specific feelings. Subsequently, it was deployed to endorse a political figure, including one notable meme endorsed by the candidate himself, portraying Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was used a shared phrase.

But the character did not originate as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his unhappiness for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply an apolitical figure in his series.

This character debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his work, he stated the character was inspired by his time with companions.

As he started out, the artist experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of online spaces, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It proves that we don't control imagery," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the popularity of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to conservative politics. A transformation occurred on a day in October, when a confrontation between a protestor dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The moment followed a directive to deploy the National Guard to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer deployed pepper spray at the individual, aiming directly into the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, saying he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage went viral.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for the city, renowned for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that delight in the ridiculous – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the deployment was illegal.

Although the court ruled that month that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits while voicing their disagreement."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," she wrote. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The order was stopped legally soon after, and troops have reportedly departed the area.

Yet already, the frog was now a powerful protest icon for progressive movements.

This symbol was spotted across the country at No Kings protests last autumn. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

The frog costume was backordered on major websites, and rose in price.

Mastering the Visual Story

What connects both frogs together – lies in the relationship between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights a cause without directly articulating them. It's the goofy costume used, or the meme circulated.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

The idea of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

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