The Journey of Conservative Icon to Resistance Symbol: The Remarkable Transformation of the Frog

The resistance isn't televised, but it could have amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

It also might feature a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

As protests against the administration continue in American cities, participants are adopting the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and performed on unicycles, as police observe.

Combining comedy and political action – a tactic social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. However, it has emerged as a signature characteristic of protests in the United States in this period, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has proven to be notably significant – the frog. It originated after a video of a clash between a man in a frog suit and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to protests throughout the United States.

"There's a lot at play with that little frog costume," states an expert, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who focuses on performance art.

From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It is difficult to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by online communities throughout an election cycle.

Initially, when the character gained popularity online, its purpose was to convey certain emotions. Afterwards, it was deployed to express backing for a political figure, including one notable meme retweeted by the candidate personally, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

The frog was also portrayed in certain internet forums in darker contexts, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users traded "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency in his name. Its famous line, "feels good, man", was used a coded signal.

But Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has expressed about his unhappiness for how the image has been used. His creation was meant as simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

Pepe first appeared in an online comic in the mid-2000s – non-political and best known for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which follows Mr Furie's efforts to wrest back control of his work, he explained his drawing was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

When he began, the artist tried uploading his work to the nascent social web, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that we don't control symbols," explains the professor. "Their meaning can evolve and be repurposed."

Until recently, the notoriety of Pepe resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. This shifted recently, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident occurred shortly after a directive to send military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, just outside of an ICE office.

Tensions were high and a officer used pepper spray at the individual, aiming directly into the opening of the costume.

The individual, the man in the costume, quipped, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". But the incident spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire was not too unusual for the city, famous for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that embrace the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which argued the use of troops was unlawful.

While the court ruled that month that the administration had the right to send personnel, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "propensity for using unusual attire while voicing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which accepts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge opined. "But today's decision has serious implications."

The action was stopped legally soon after, and troops are said to have left the city.

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

The inflatable suit was seen nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They were in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was backordered on major websites, and rose in price.

Controlling the Narrative

The link between Pepe and the protest frog – is the interplay between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what the professor terms the "irresistible image" – frequently absurd, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that calls attention to a message without obviously explaining them. It's the goofy costume used, or the symbol you share.

The professor is an analyst on this topic and a veteran practitioner. He authored a text on the subject, and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and still have plausible deniability."

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

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