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This revolution isn't broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and bulging eyes.

Additionally, it could include the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

Whilst demonstrations opposing the government continue in US cities, participants are adopting the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided dance instruction, distributed treats, and ridden unicycles, as police watch.

Blending comedy and political action – a tactic experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a signature characteristic of American protest in the current era, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It started after video footage of a clash between a protester in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. It subsequently appeared to rallies nationwide.

"There is much going on with that small frog costume," notes LM Bogad, 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 examine demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a web comic frog embraced by online communities throughout a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the meme gained popularity online, it was used to signal specific feelings. Afterwards, its use evolved to endorse a candidate, including one notable meme shared by that figure personally, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users traded "unique frog images" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used a shared phrase.

But the character did not originate this divisive.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his comic world.

The frog debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – non-political and notable for a quirky behavior. A film, which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his work, he explained his drawing was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to new websites, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As its popularity grew into the more extreme corners of the internet, the creator tried to disavow the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that we don't control icons," explains Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be repurposed."

For a long time, the association of Pepe resulted in frogs became a symbol for the right. This shifted recently, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland spread rapidly online.

This incident followed an order to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Activists began to congregate on a single block, just outside of an ICE office.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer deployed pepper spray at the individual, directing it into the opening of the inflatable suit.

The protester, the man in the costume, quipped, remarking he had tasted "something milder". However, the video spread everywhere.

The costume was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel in the absurd – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog even played a role in a lawsuit between the administration and the city, which contended the deployment was illegal.

Although the court ruled in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for using unusual attire while voicing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," she stated. "However, this ruling is not merely absurd."

The order was stopped legally just a month later, and troops have reportedly departed the city.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had transformed into a significant symbol of resistance for the left.

The inflatable suit was seen in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises abroad.

The frog costume was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Narrative

What brings the two amphibian symbols – lies in the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" display that draws focus to a cause without explicitly stating them. It's the goofy costume used, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

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