🔗 Share this article

This protest movement isn't televised, but it could have amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

As rallies against the leadership carry on in US cities, demonstrators are utilizing the energy of a local block party. They've offered salsa lessons, handed out treats, and performed on unicycles, while armed law enforcement look on.

Combining humour and politics – an approach social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a hallmark of American protest in recent years, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has risen to become particularly salient – the frog. It started after recordings of an encounter between a protester in a frog suit and ICE agents in the city of Portland, went viral. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations throughout the United States.

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

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

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

When the meme gained popularity online, it was used to express specific feelings. Subsequently, its use evolved to endorse a political figure, even one notable meme shared by that figure himself, depicting the frog with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in darker contexts, portrayed as a hate group member. Users exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was deployed an inside joke.

But the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has been vocal about his distaste for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

This character debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which documents the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his creation, he stated the character was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

When he began, the artist tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator tried to disavow his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It proves the lack of control over imagery," explains the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Previously, the association of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery became a symbol for the right. But that changed in early October, when a viral moment between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland captured global attention.

The moment followed an order to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, just outside of an ICE office.

Tensions were high and a officer sprayed a chemical agent at a protester, targeting the air intake fan of the costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, saying it tasted like "something milder". However, the video became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for Portland, renowned for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that embrace the absurd – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which contended the deployment was unlawful.

Although the court ruled in October that the president had the right to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes while voicing dissent."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," she wrote. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The order was halted by courts soon after, and troops are said to have left the area.

However, by that time, the frog had transformed into a powerful anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The costume was spotted in many cities at No Kings protests that fall. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

This item was in high demand on online retailers, and rose in price.

Shaping the Optics

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" display that highlights a cause without needing directly articulating them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the meme circulated.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops 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 idea of this approach is multi-faceted, he says.

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