From Right-Wing Icon to Resistance Emblem: The Surprising Evolution of the Amphibian

This revolution may not be broadcast, but it could have webbed feet and large eyes.

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

As rallies opposing the government continue in US cities, participants have embraced the vibe of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided dance instruction, distributed snacks, and ridden unicycles, as officers observe.

Combining humour and political action – a tactic experts term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of American protest in recent years, adopted by both left and right.

One particular emblem has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It started after a video of a clash between a protester in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to rallies nationwide.

"There's a lot at play with that small inflatable frog," states LM Bogad, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies political performance.

From Pepe to Portland

It's hard to examine protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure co-opted by far-right groups during a political race.

As this image first took off online, it was used to convey specific feelings. Subsequently, it was deployed to endorse a political figure, including a particular image retweeted by the candidate himself, portraying the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, as a historical dictator. Users traded "unique frog images" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", became an inside joke.

Yet the character did not originate as a political symbol.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his distaste for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in his comic world.

Pepe first appeared in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his creation, he explained the character came from his life with companions.

When he began, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to new websites, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. As Pepe spread into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"This demonstrates the lack of control over symbols," explains Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

Until recently, the association of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. A transformation occurred on a day in October, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland spread rapidly online.

The moment occurred shortly after an order to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Protesters began to gather in droves outside a facility, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

Emotions ran high and a officer used pepper spray at a protester, aiming directly into the opening of the puffy frog costume.

The protester, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, remarking he had tasted "something milder". But the incident became a sensation.

The frog suit was somewhat typical for Portland, known for its eccentric vibe and left-wing protests that delight in the absurd – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume was also referenced in a lawsuit between the federal government and the city, which contended the use of troops was unlawful.

While the court ruled in October that the president was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "well-known penchant for wearing chicken suits while voicing dissent."

"Some might view the court's opinion, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge opined. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked just a month later, and troops withdrew from the city.

Yet already, the frog had become a significant anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The costume was seen across the country at No Kings protests that fall. Amphibian costumes were present – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They were in small towns and big international cities abroad.

This item was sold out on online retailers, and became more expensive.

Mastering the Optics

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

The tactic is based on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it's a "disarming and charming" display that calls attention to a message without obviously explaining them. It's the goofy costume 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 express dissent indirectly and still have a layer of protection."

The theory of such tactics is three-fold, he says.

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