From Far-Right Symbol to Anti-ICE Symbol: This Surprising Story of the Amphibian

The revolution may not be televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations against the leadership continue in American cities, demonstrators are utilizing the vibe of a community costume parade. They've offered salsa lessons, given away treats, and ridden unicycles, as officers watch.

Mixing humour and politics – an approach social scientists call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a hallmark of American protest in recent years, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has risen to become especially powerful – the frog. It started when a video of a clash between an individual in an inflatable frog and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to protests nationwide.

"There's a lot going on with that little blow-up amphibian," says an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who studies creative activism.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to discuss protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by extremist movements during a previous presidential campaign.

As the meme first took off on the internet, it was used to convey specific feelings. Later, it was utilized to express backing for a political figure, including one notable meme retweeted by that figure himself, portraying Pepe with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a hate group member. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became an inside joke.

Yet its beginnings were not this divisive.

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

The frog debuted in comic strips in 2005 – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. A film, which chronicles the creator's attempt to take back of his work, he stated his drawing was inspired by his life with friends and roommates.

As he started out, the artist experimented with uploading his work to the nascent social web, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own imagery," explains Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Previously, the notoriety of Pepe resulted in frogs were largely associated with the right. This shifted on a day in October, when a viral moment between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland spread rapidly online.

The moment followed a decision to deploy military personnel to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Demonstrators began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, just outside of a federal building.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer used irritant at the individual, targeting the opening of the puffy frog costume.

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

The costume was somewhat typical for the city, known for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel in the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog even played a role in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which claimed the use of troops was unlawful.

Although a judge decided in October that the administration had the right to send personnel, a dissenting judge wrote, mentioning the protesters' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes while voicing dissent."

"It is easy to see this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge stated. "Yet the outcome has serious implications."

The action was stopped legally just a month later, and troops withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the frog had become a significant anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

This symbol was spotted across the country at No Kings protests last autumn. Frogs appeared – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was backordered on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Controlling the Optics

What connects Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The strategy is based on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that highlights a message without needing explicitly stating them. This is the goofy costume used, or the meme circulated.

The professor is both an expert on this topic and an experienced participant. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

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

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