The Journey of Right-Wing Icon to Protest Icon: This Remarkable Transformation of the Amphibian

This protest movement won't be televised, yet it might possess amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

While rallies against the administration continue in American cities, participants are adopting the vibe of a community costume parade. They've offered salsa lessons, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, while officers look on.

Mixing comedy and politics – a strategy researchers call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in this period, embraced by both left and right.

One particular emblem has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It began after video footage of an encounter between a protester in a frog suit and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to protests throughout the United States.

"A great deal happening with that humble blow-up amphibian," notes a professor, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on political performance.

From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by far-right groups during an election cycle.

Initially, when the meme first took off on the internet, its purpose was to convey specific feelings. Afterwards, it was deployed to show support for a political figure, including a particular image endorsed by that figure personally, depicting 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 established digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became an inside joke.

But its beginnings were not as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, the illustrator, has expressed about his unhappiness for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

The frog debuted in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his work, he stated his drawing came from his life with friends and roommates.

As he started out, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

Yet the frog persisted.

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

Until recently, the notoriety of this meme resulted in frogs were predominantly linked to conservative politics. This shifted on a day in October, when a confrontation between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon went viral.

The moment occurred shortly after a decision to send the National Guard to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and a officer sprayed irritant at a protester, aiming directly into the opening of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, stating it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, famous for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

This symbol became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which contended the use of troops was illegal.

While the court ruled that month that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for wearing chicken suits while voicing their disagreement."

"It is easy to see this decision, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," Judge Susan Graber opined. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

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

But by then, the frog had transformed into a significant protest icon for progressive movements.

The costume was seen across the country at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The frog costume was sold out on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Shaping the Optics

What brings the two amphibian symbols – lies in the interplay between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" act that calls attention to a message without directly articulating them. This is the unusual prop you wear, or the symbol you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and an experienced participant. He authored a book called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

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

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