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This revolution may not be broadcast, but it could have webbed feet and bulging eyes.

Additionally, it could include a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

As rallies against the leadership continue in US cities, participants are adopting the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've offered salsa lessons, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, while police observe.

Combining comedy and politics – an approach experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a hallmark of American protest in recent years, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It originated after a video of an encounter between an individual in a frog suit and federal officers in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations nationwide.

"There's a lot happening with that small inflatable frog," says an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who specialises in performance art.

From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a web comic frog adopted by extremist movements during a political race.

Initially, when the character first took off on the internet, its purpose was to signal certain emotions. Afterwards, it was deployed to express backing for a political figure, even one notable meme endorsed by that figure personally, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in offensive ways, portrayed as a hate group member. Users exchanged "unique frog images" and established digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a shared phrase.

But Pepe didn't start out as a political symbol.

Its creator, the illustrator, has been vocal about his unhappiness for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

Pepe first appeared in comic strips in 2005 – non-political and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his work, he explained his drawing was inspired by his life with companions.

When he began, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to the nascent social web, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from his creation, including ending its life in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own imagery," explains Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reworked."

For a long time, the association of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. But that changed recently, when an incident between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

This incident came just days after a decision to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Protesters began to gather in droves outside a facility, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Tensions were high and a officer used pepper spray at the individual, targeting the opening of the inflatable suit.

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

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, famous for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that embrace the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and Portland, which claimed the use of troops was unlawful.

While a judge decided in October that the president was within its rights to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits when expressing opposition."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge wrote. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The order was stopped legally subsequently, and personnel are said to have left the city.

However, by that time, the frog had become a powerful symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The costume appeared in many cities at No Kings protests last autumn. Frogs appeared – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was backordered on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Optics

What connects the two amphibian symbols – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that highlights a message without needing directly articulating them. It's the silly outfit used, or the meme you share.

The professor is an analyst on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a book on the subject, and led seminars around the world.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

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