The Journey of Conservative Meme to Anti-ICE Symbol: The Unexpected Evolution of the Amphibian

This resistance isn't televised, but it could have webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

As rallies opposing the administration persist in American cities, demonstrators are adopting the spirit of a community costume parade. They've provided salsa lessons, handed out snacks, and performed on unicycles, while officers look on.

Blending humour and political action – a tactic experts refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a signature characteristic of US demonstrations in recent years, embraced by various groups.

And one symbol has risen to become notably significant – the frog. It started when a video of an encounter between a protester in an amphibian costume and immigration enforcement agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations across the country.

"There's a lot happening with that little frog costume," notes an expert, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who specialises in political performance.

From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to discuss protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by online communities throughout an election cycle.

As this image first took off on the internet, it was used to convey certain emotions. Later, it was utilized to express backing for a candidate, even one notable meme retweeted by the candidate himself, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Pepe was also depicted in digital spaces in darker contexts, as a historical dictator. Participants exchanged "unique frog images" and set up digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "feels good, man", became an inside joke.

But the character did not originate 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 relaxed amphibian in his comic world.

The frog debuted in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. In a documentary, which follows Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his creation, he said the character came from his life with friends and roommates.

Early in his career, the artist tried sharing his art to early internet platforms, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of the internet, the creator attempted to distance himself from the frog, even killing him off in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates that creators cannot own icons," says the professor. "They transform and be reworked."

Previously, the notoriety of Pepe resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. This shifted on a day in October, when a viral moment between an activist wearing a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

The moment occurred shortly after an order to send military personnel to Portland, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, just outside of a federal building.

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

The individual, the man in the costume, reacted humorously, stating it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage spread everywhere.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for Portland, known for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that embrace the absurd – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and nude cycling groups. Its creed is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog even played a role in the ensuing legal battle between the administration and Portland, which contended the deployment was illegal.

Although a judge decided in October that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, a dissenting judge wrote, noting in her opinion the protesters' "known tendency for using unusual attire when expressing opposition."

"Observers may be tempted this decision, which adopts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "Yet the outcome is not merely absurd."

The deployment was halted by courts soon after, and personnel withdrew from the area.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume was now a potent anti-administration symbol for the left.

The inflatable suit appeared in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests recently. Amphibian costumes were present – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

This item was in high demand on major websites, and became more expensive.

Shaping the Visual Story

What brings the two amphibian symbols – is the relationship between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – usually humorous, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" display that calls attention to your ideas without needing directly articulating them. This is the silly outfit used, or the symbol you share.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and someone who uses these tactics. He's written a text on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"You could go back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The purpose of such tactics is multi-faceted, he explains.

When activists confront the state, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences