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This resistance won't be broadcast, but it could have webbed feet and large eyes.

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

While protests opposing the leadership carry on in US cities, protesters have embraced the spirit of a community costume parade. They have taught salsa lessons, given away treats, and performed on unicycles, as police watch.

Mixing comedy and political action – a strategy experts call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of US demonstrations in recent years, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It began after a video of an encounter between a man in an inflatable frog and federal officers in the city of Portland, spread online. And it has since spread to protests nationwide.

"There is much happening with that small frog costume," says an expert, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on political performance.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by extremist movements during a political race.

When this image initially spread on the internet, its purpose was to express certain emotions. Later, its use evolved to express backing for a candidate, including one notable meme shared by that figure himself, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Online conservatives traded "unique frog images" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

Yet Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his unhappiness for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. A film, which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his creation, he said his drawing came from his experiences with companions.

As he started out, the artist tried uploading his work to new websites, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It shows that creators cannot own symbols," says the professor. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

Previously, the association of Pepe resulted in frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. This shifted recently, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The moment occurred shortly after an order to deploy military personnel to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Protesters began to gather in droves on a single block, near a federal building.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer deployed a chemical agent at the individual, targeting the opening of the costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, remarking it tasted like "spicier tamales". However, the video went viral.

The frog suit fit right in for the city, known for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that revel in the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the use of troops overstepped authority.

Although a ruling was issued that month that the administration had the right to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "propensity for donning inflatable costumes when expressing dissent."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," she opined. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The action was halted by courts subsequently, and personnel have reportedly departed the city.

But by then, the frog had transformed into a powerful anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

This symbol was seen in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was sold out on online retailers, and rose in price.

Mastering the Narrative

What brings the two amphibian symbols – is the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" display that calls attention to your ideas without needing obviously explaining them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to speak the truth a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

The idea of this approach is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad says.

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