The Journey of Far-Right Symbol to Protest Emblem: This Surprising Evolution of the Frog

The revolution isn't broadcast, though it may feature webbed feet and large eyes.

Additionally, it could include a unicorn's horn or the plumage of a chicken.

Whilst rallies against the leadership continue in US cities, demonstrators have embraced the spirit of a local block party. They have taught dance instruction, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, as police watch.

Combining levity and politics – a strategy social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of American protest in recent years, used by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It began after video footage of an encounter between a protester in an inflatable frog and ICE agents in the city of Portland, went viral. It subsequently appeared to demonstrations across the country.

"A great deal going on with that little frog costume," notes LM Bogad, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who studies political performance.

From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It is difficult to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog adopted by extremist movements throughout a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when the meme gained popularity online, people used it to express specific feelings. Later, it was deployed to express backing for a political figure, even a particular image shared by the candidate personally, showing the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in darker contexts, as a historical dictator. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was used a shared phrase.

However Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has been vocal about his unhappiness for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in his comic world.

The frog first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – apolitical and best known for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which follows the creator's attempt to take back of his work, he said his drawing came from his experiences with companions.

Early in his career, the artist experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

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

For a long time, the popularity of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery became a symbol for the right. But that changed 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 captured global attention.

The moment followed a directive to deploy military personnel to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Activists began to congregate at a specific location, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer deployed irritant at a protester, aiming directly into the opening of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, saying he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage went viral.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, known for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and Portland, which contended the deployment was unlawful.

Although the court ruled that month that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a minority opinion disagreed, noting in her opinion the protesters' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire when expressing dissent."

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

The deployment was "permanently" blocked soon after, and personnel have reportedly departed the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had become a potent protest icon for progressive movements.

The costume was spotted nationwide at anti-authoritarian protests recently. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in small towns and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on major websites, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Optics

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

The tactic relies on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights a cause without needing directly articulating them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol circulated.

The professor is an analyst in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He's written a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

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

When protesters confront a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences