From Right-Wing Icon to Anti-ICE Icon: This Remarkable Transformation of the Frog

The revolution may not be broadcast, though it may feature amphibious toes and large eyes.

Additionally, it could include a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

As protests opposing the leadership carry on in American cities, participants are adopting the vibe of a local block party. They have taught dance instruction, distributed treats, and performed on unicycles, as police look on.

Blending comedy and political action – a tactic researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. However, it has emerged as a hallmark of US demonstrations in recent years, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

A specific icon has emerged as notably significant – the frog. It began when a video of a confrontation between a protester in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. And it has since spread to demonstrations across the country.

"There is much happening with that small inflatable frog," states a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who specialises in performance art.

The Path From the Pepe Meme to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to examine protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by extremist movements during an election cycle.

As this image gained popularity online, its purpose was to express specific feelings. Subsequently, it was deployed to endorse a candidate, even a particular image retweeted by that figure himself, depicting the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in certain internet forums in more extreme scenarios, portrayed as a hate group member. Users traded "rare Pepes" and set up digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was deployed a coded signal.

Yet its beginnings were not as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his disapproval for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in his series.

Pepe first appeared in a series of comics in 2005 – apolitical and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which follows the creator's attempt to reclaim ownership of his work, he said his drawing came from his time with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to the nascent social web, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, including ending its life in a final panel.

However, its legacy continued.

"It proves that we don't control icons," says Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reclaimed."

For a long time, the association of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery became a symbol for conservative politics. A transformation occurred in early October, when an incident between a protestor wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland captured global attention.

The event occurred shortly after an order to deploy military personnel to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, near a federal building.

The situation was tense and an agent sprayed irritant at a protester, aiming directly into the opening of the puffy frog costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, reacted humorously, remarking he had tasted "spicier tamales". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel in the ridiculous – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The costume even played a role in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and Portland, which argued the use of troops was illegal.

Although the court ruled in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion the protesters' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes when expressing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," she opined. "However, this ruling is not merely absurd."

The order was stopped legally subsequently, and troops are said to have left the city.

Yet already, the amphibian costume had become a powerful symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

This symbol was seen across the country at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

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

Controlling the Optics

What brings both frogs together – is the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what Mr Bogad calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it acts as a "disarming and charming" performance that calls attention to your ideas without explicitly stating them. It's the goofy costume used, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is an analyst on this topic and someone who uses these tactics. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops internationally.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The purpose of this approach is three-fold, he explains.

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