🔗 Share this article

This resistance won't be televised, though it may feature webbed feet and large eyes.

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

While protests opposing the government persist in US cities, participants are utilizing the spirit of a community costume parade. They've offered dance instruction, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, as officers look on.

Blending comedy and political action – an approach researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in this period, embraced by various groups.

One particular emblem has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It began when a video of an encounter between a man in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, spread online. It subsequently appeared to protests nationwide.

"There is much happening with that little inflatable frog," says a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies political performance.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to examine demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by far-right groups during a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the meme first took off on the internet, it was used to convey specific feelings. Afterwards, its use evolved to express backing for a political figure, even a particular image endorsed by the candidate himself, showing the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, as a historical dictator. Users traded "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was deployed an inside joke.

Yet Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his disapproval for its appropriation. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

The frog debuted in an online comic in 2005 – non-political and best known for a quirky behavior. A film, which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his creation, he stated his drawing came from his life with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to new websites, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As its popularity grew into darker parts of online spaces, the creator sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It shows the lack of control over symbols," says the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Previously, the popularity of this meme resulted in frogs were predominantly linked to the right. A transformation occurred on a day in October, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident occurred shortly after a decision to send the National Guard to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to gather in droves outside a facility, near an ICE office.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer sprayed irritant at the individual, targeting the ventilation of the costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". However, the video went viral.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, famous for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which contended the deployment was unlawful.

Although the court ruled that month that the president had the right to deploy troops, one judge dissented, mentioning the protesters' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes when expressing dissent."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," she opined. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The action was halted by courts just a month later, and personnel have reportedly departed the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had transformed into a powerful protest icon for the left.

The inflatable suit was seen across the country at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

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

Controlling the Optics

What connects both frogs together – is the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it acts as a "disarming and charming" performance that draws focus to a message without needing obviously explaining them. It's the goofy costume used, or the symbol you share.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The idea of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

As protesters confront the state, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences