How Far-Right Meme to Resistance Symbol: The Surprising Story of the Amphibian

This revolution isn't televised, though it may feature amphibious toes and bulging eyes.

It also might feature the horn of a unicorn or the plumage of a chicken.

As rallies against the government persist in US cities, demonstrators have embraced the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They have taught salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and ridden unicycles, while police look on.

Mixing comedy and political action – an approach social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of American protest in recent years, adopted by both left and right.

And one symbol has emerged as particularly salient – the frog. It started after a video of an encounter between an individual in a frog suit and federal officers in the city of Portland, spread online. From there, it proliferated to protests across the country.

"There is much going on with that humble frog costume," states a professor, who teaches at UC Davis and an academic who studies performance art.

The Path From Pepe to Portland

It's challenging to discuss protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by far-right groups throughout a political race.

When this image gained popularity online, people used it to convey certain emotions. Later, its use evolved to show support for a candidate, including a particular image shared by the candidate personally, showing Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in digital spaces in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a hate group member. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", became a shared phrase.

However its beginnings were not so controversial.

Its creator, the illustrator, has expressed about his distaste for its appropriation. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

The frog debuted in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which follows Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his creation, he explained his drawing came from his time with companions.

As he started out, the artist tried sharing his art to new websites, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As Pepe spread into darker parts of the internet, Mr Furie tried to disavow the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that creators cannot own icons," explains Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reworked."

Until recently, the association of Pepe resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. But that changed recently, when an incident between an activist dressed in an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland captured global attention.

This incident followed a decision to send military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to gather in droves outside a facility, just outside of a federal building.

Emotions ran high and an immigration officer sprayed a chemical agent at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, stating it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for the city, famous for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that revel in the unusual – outdoor exercise, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which argued the use of troops was illegal.

While the court ruled that month that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "propensity for using unusual attire when expressing opposition."

"It is easy to see the majority's ruling, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber stated. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The action was "permanently" blocked soon after, and troops have reportedly departed the area.

Yet already, the amphibian costume had transformed into a significant anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit appeared across the country at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was backordered on online retailers, and rose in price.

Shaping the Optics

What brings the two amphibian symbols – lies in the relationship between the silly, innocent image and a deeper political meaning. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The strategy rests on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – often silly, it acts as a "disarming and charming" performance that draws focus to a message without directly articulating them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops around the world.

"One can look back to historical periods – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to express dissent a little bit and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The theory of this approach is three-fold, Mr Bogad explains.

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