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The revolution may not be broadcast, but it could have amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

As protests opposing the leadership persist in American cities, demonstrators have embraced the vibe of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement look on.

Mixing levity and politics – a strategy researchers term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of American protest in the current era, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It began after recordings of a confrontation between a protester in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations across the country.

"There's a lot at play with that little inflatable frog," notes LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on creative activism.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to examine demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, a web comic frog adopted by online communities throughout a political race.

Initially, when this image initially spread online, people used it to convey certain emotions. Later, its use evolved to show support for a candidate, including a particular image shared by that figure himself, depicting Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a hate group member. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a coded signal.

Yet its beginnings were not this divisive.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for its co-option. His creation was meant as simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his creation, he said the character was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist tried sharing his art to the nascent social web, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over imagery," states the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Previously, the notoriety of this meme meant that frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. This shifted recently, when an incident between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

The event occurred shortly after a decision to deploy military personnel to the city, which was called "a warzone". Activists began to gather in droves at a specific location, just outside of an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an agent used a chemical agent at the individual, targeting the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, saying it tasted like "something milder". However, the video became a sensation.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for the city, renowned for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that delight in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and the city, which claimed the deployment overstepped authority.

Although a ruling was issued in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning the protesters' "known tendency for wearing chicken suits when expressing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge wrote. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The action was halted by courts soon after, and personnel have reportedly departed the area.

Yet already, the frog had become a significant anti-administration symbol for the left.

This symbol was spotted nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. There were frogs – 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 backordered on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Shaping the Narrative

What brings the two amphibian symbols – lies in the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it acts as a "disarming and charming" display that highlights your ideas without directly articulating them. It's the goofy costume used, or the meme circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

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