🔗 Share this article

This resistance may not be broadcast, though it may feature amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations against the leadership persist in US cities, demonstrators are adopting the vibe of a local block party. They have taught salsa lessons, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, as police observe.

Blending humour and politics – a strategy researchers term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of American protest in the current era, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It began after video footage of a confrontation between an individual in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations across the country.

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

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

It's hard to examine demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a web comic frog co-opted by far-right groups throughout a previous presidential campaign.

As the character gained popularity on the internet, it was used to convey certain emotions. Subsequently, its use evolved to express backing for a candidate, including one notable meme shared by the candidate himself, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in offensive ways, as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a shared phrase.

Yet its beginnings were not so controversial.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his disapproval for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which follows the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he stated his drawing came from his life with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist experimented with uploading his work to early internet platforms, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of the internet, the creator tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that creators cannot own imagery," states the professor. "They can change and shift and be reworked."

Previously, the notoriety of this meme meant that frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. A transformation occurred recently, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The moment occurred shortly after a directive to send the National Guard to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Demonstrators began to congregate outside a facility, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer deployed irritant at the individual, directing it into the air intake fan of the costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, saying it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage went viral.

The frog suit fit right in for the city, famous for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that revel in the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol became part of in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which claimed the use of troops was illegal.

Although the court ruled in October that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits while voicing dissent."

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

The order was halted by courts soon after, and personnel have reportedly departed the city.

Yet already, the amphibian costume had transformed into a significant symbol of resistance for the left.

This symbol was spotted across the country at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Narrative

The link between both frogs together – lies in the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it acts as a "disarming and charming" performance that highlights a message without explicitly stating them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He's written a text on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

The theory of this approach is three-fold, he explains.

As activists take on authority, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences