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

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

As demonstrations opposing the leadership carry on in US cities, participants have embraced the energy of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement observe.

Blending humour and politics – a tactic researchers call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in this period, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It originated when a video of a clash between a man in a frog suit and federal officers in the city of Portland, went viral. And it has since spread to demonstrations nationwide.

"There's a lot going on with that little frog costume," states LM Bogad, a professor at UC Davis and an academic who studies creative activism.

From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's hard to discuss protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog co-opted by far-right groups throughout a previous presidential campaign.

When the character gained popularity on the internet, people used it to signal certain emotions. Later, its use evolved to express backing for a candidate, including a particular image retweeted by that figure personally, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", became an inside joke.

Yet Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his distaste for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his comic world.

This character first appeared in an online comic in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he stated his drawing came from his time with friends and roommates.

When he began, the artist tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of online spaces, the creator attempted to distance himself from his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that we don't control symbols," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reworked."

Previously, the notoriety of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to conservative politics. This shifted recently, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

This incident came just days after a decision to send military personnel to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to congregate outside a facility, near an ICE office.

Tensions were high and a officer sprayed pepper spray at the individual, targeting the ventilation of the costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating it tasted like "spicier tamales". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for Portland, famous for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that revel in the unusual – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol became part of in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and the city, which contended the use of troops was unlawful.

Although a judge decided in October that the president was within its rights to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "propensity for wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge opined. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was halted by courts just a month later, and personnel are said to have left the city.

But by then, the frog was now a potent anti-administration symbol for the left.

The costume was spotted across the country at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

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

Mastering the Narrative

The link between Pepe and the protest frog – is the relationship between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach rests on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" performance that draws focus to a message without needing obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the meme you share.

The professor is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

The purpose of such tactics is multi-faceted, he says.

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