This protest movement won't be broadcast, though it may feature amphibious toes and large eyes.
It also might feature the horn of a unicorn or a chicken's feathers.
While demonstrations opposing the administration continue in American cities, participants are utilizing the spirit of a community costume parade. They've offered dance instruction, handed out treats, and ridden unicycles, while armed law enforcement watch.
Mixing comedy and political action – a strategy social scientists refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of American protest in recent years, adopted by various groups.
A specific icon has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It originated when recordings of a confrontation between a man in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. From there, it proliferated to protests throughout the United States.
"There's a lot at play with that humble frog costume," states LM Bogad, who teaches at University of California, Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who focuses on creative activism.
It is difficult to talk about protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog embraced by online communities during a previous presidential campaign.
As the meme initially spread online, its purpose was to convey certain emotions. Later, it was utilized to show support for a political figure, including a particular image endorsed by the candidate personally, depicting the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.
Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a hate group member. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was used a shared phrase.
However its beginnings were not so controversial.
Matt Furie, the illustrator, has expressed about his unhappiness for its co-option. The character was intended as simply a "chill frog-dude" in his comic world.
The frog first appeared in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which chronicles Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his creation, he explained his drawing came from his life with friends and roommates.
When he began, the artist experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where people online began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into darker parts of the internet, the creator tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.
But Pepe lived on.
"It proves the lack of control over symbols," explains Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reworked."
For a long time, the popularity of this meme meant that amphibian imagery were largely associated with conservative politics. A transformation occurred recently, when an incident between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland went viral.
The event occurred shortly after a decision to deploy the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Demonstrators began to gather in droves on a single block, near an ICE office.
The situation was tense and an agent used irritant at a protester, targeting the ventilation of the costume.
Seth Todd, the man in the costume, quipped, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". But the incident became a sensation.
Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, renowned for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that embrace the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."
This symbol was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which argued the use of troops was unlawful.
Although the court ruled in October that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "propensity for wearing chicken suits while voicing opposition."
"Observers may be tempted the majority's ruling, which adopts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," she stated. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."
The deployment was halted by courts subsequently, and troops are said to have left the area.
However, by that time, the amphibian costume was now a powerful protest icon for the left.
The inflatable suit was seen across the country at No Kings protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in rural communities and big international cities abroad.
The frog costume was in high demand on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.
What connects the two amphibian symbols – 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 the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that highlights a message without needing explicitly stating them. It's the goofy costume used, or the meme you share.
Mr Bogad is both an expert on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He's written a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops internationally.
"One can look back to the Middle Ages – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and still have plausible deniability."
The purpose of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad says.
When activists take on authority, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences
