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This revolution won't be broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

As protests against the government carry on in US cities, protesters have embraced the vibe of a community costume parade. They have taught salsa lessons, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement look on.

Mixing levity and politics – a tactic experts call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of US demonstrations in this period, adopted by various groups.

One particular emblem has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It started when video footage of a clash between a man in a frog suit and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, spread online. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations nationwide.

"There's a lot happening with that small frog costume," states an expert, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in creative activism.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to talk about protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by far-right groups during a political race.

As this image first took off on the internet, people used it to signal specific feelings. Afterwards, it was utilized to endorse a political figure, even one notable meme shared by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", became a shared phrase.

However its beginnings were not so controversial.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has expressed about his distaste for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

The frog debuted in comic strips in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which documents the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he said the character was inspired by his life with companions.

When he began, the artist tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own icons," states Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Previously, the association of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery became a symbol for the right. A transformation occurred recently, when an incident between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

The event occurred shortly after a decision to send military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer deployed irritant at the individual, aiming directly into the opening of the inflatable suit.

The individual, the man in the costume, quipped, stating he had tasted "something milder". Yet the footage became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, known for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that revel in the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which argued the deployment was unlawful.

While the court ruled in October that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge stated. "But today's decision has serious implications."

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

However, by that time, the frog was now a potent protest icon for the left.

This symbol was spotted in many cities at No Kings protests last autumn. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They were in small towns and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Optics

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy is based on what Mr Bogad terms the "irresistible image" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights your ideas without needing obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a text on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, he says.

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