From Far-Right Icon to Resistance Emblem: This Remarkable Transformation of the Amphibian

This resistance isn't televised, yet it might possess amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

As protests against the administration persist in US cities, protesters are utilizing the energy of a community costume parade. They've offered salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, while police observe.

Blending humour and politics – a strategy social scientists refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of US demonstrations in recent years, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It began when a video of an encounter between a protester in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. And it has since spread to protests across the country.

"There is much going on with that small frog costume," says LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who specialises in political performance.

The Path From Pepe to Portland

It is difficult to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by far-right groups during an election cycle.

When this image gained popularity online, its purpose was to convey certain emotions. Subsequently, it was deployed to show support for a political figure, including one notable meme shared by that figure personally, portraying Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "unique frog images" and established digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", became an inside joke.

However the character did not originate so controversial.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his unhappiness for its appropriation. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

The frog debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he explained the character was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. When the meme proliferated into the more extreme corners of online spaces, the creator sought to reject his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that we don't control imagery," explains the professor. "They transform and be reworked."

For a long time, the association of this meme resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. This shifted recently, when a confrontation between a protestor wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon captured global attention.

The event occurred shortly after a decision to send the National Guard to the city, which was called "a warzone". Protesters began to congregate at a specific location, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

Tensions were high and an agent sprayed pepper spray at a protester, targeting the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The individual, the man in the costume, quipped, saying he had tasted "something milder". However, the video went viral.

The costume was somewhat typical for Portland, renowned for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that embrace the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which claimed the use of troops was unlawful.

Although the court ruled that month that the administration had the right to deploy troops, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion the protesters' "propensity for wearing chicken suits while voicing dissent."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which accepts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge wrote. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The order was halted by courts subsequently, and troops withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the frog was now a potent anti-administration symbol for the left.

This symbol was spotted nationwide at No Kings protests recently. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Visual Story

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy is based on what Mr Bogad terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" display that draws focus to your ideas without obviously explaining them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the meme circulated.

The professor is an analyst on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He authored 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 speak the truth a little bit and still have a layer of protection."

The purpose of such tactics is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

When activists confront authority, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences