🔗 Share this article

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

Furthermore, it may involve the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

As protests opposing the leadership persist in US cities, protesters are adopting the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They have taught salsa lessons, distributed treats, and performed on unicycles, as officers observe.

Blending comedy and politics – a tactic social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in the current era, adopted by both left and right.

A specific icon has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It started after recordings of a clash between a protester in a frog suit and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, spread online. And it has since spread to demonstrations across the country.

"There is much going on with that little blow-up amphibian," notes LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on performance art.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to Portland

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

As the meme initially spread online, it was used to signal certain emotions. Subsequently, it was utilized to endorse a political figure, even a particular image endorsed by that figure personally, portraying Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a hate group member. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used an inside joke.

Yet Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Its creator, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for its co-option. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

The frog first appeared in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his work, he explained the character came from his time with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to the nascent social web, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of the internet, 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," explains Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reclaimed."

Previously, the association of this meme meant that frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. A transformation occurred recently, when a confrontation between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland captured global attention.

This incident occurred shortly after a decision to send the National Guard to the city, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to congregate at a specific location, near an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and a officer deployed pepper spray at a protester, aiming directly into the opening of the costume.

The protester, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, stating it tasted like "something milder". However, the video spread everywhere.

The frog suit was not too unusual for the city, known for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that revel in the absurd – public yoga, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume was also referenced in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which contended the use of troops overstepped authority.

Although a judge decided that month that the administration had the right to send personnel, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes while voicing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The order was "permanently" blocked subsequently, and personnel withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the frog had become a significant protest icon for the left.

The inflatable suit was spotted in many cities at No Kings protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in small towns and global metropolises abroad.

This item was in high demand on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Narrative

What connects Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the relationship between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" display that calls attention to a cause without needing explicitly stating them. It's the goofy costume used, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text 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 indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

The purpose of such tactics is multi-faceted, Mr Bogad explains.

When activists take on a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences