From Conservative Meme to Anti-ICE Icon: The Unexpected Evolution of the Amphibian

The revolution won't be broadcast, yet it might possess amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

As demonstrations opposing the administration persist in US cities, protesters are utilizing the energy of a local block party. They've offered dance instruction, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, as armed law enforcement watch.

Combining humour and political action – a tactic social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a defining feature of American protest in this period, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has risen to become particularly salient – the frog. It began after video footage of an encounter between an individual in an inflatable frog and immigration enforcement agents in the city of Portland, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to rallies nationwide.

"There is much at play with that little frog costume," notes an expert, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who studies creative activism.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about protests and frogs without talking about Pepe, a web comic frog co-opted by far-right groups during an election cycle.

When this image gained popularity online, its purpose was to convey specific feelings. Subsequently, it was utilized to show support for a political figure, even one notable meme endorsed by the candidate personally, depicting Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, as a historical dictator. Online conservatives exchanged "unique frog images" and established cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "feels good, man", was deployed a shared phrase.

However Pepe didn't start out so controversial.

Its creator, artist Matt Furie, has expressed about his disapproval for its appropriation. Pepe was supposed to be simply a relaxed amphibian in this artist's universe.

This character first appeared in a series of comics in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which documents the creator's attempt to take back of his creation, he said his drawing came from his life with companions.

Early in his career, the artist experimented with sharing his art to new websites, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of the internet, Mr Furie attempted to distance himself from the frog, including ending its life in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

"It proves that we don't control symbols," states Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reworked."

Previously, the association of this meme resulted in amphibian imagery became a symbol for the right. This shifted in early October, when a viral moment between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and an immigration officer in Portland went viral.

The event followed a directive to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "a warzone". Protesters began to assemble in large numbers on a single block, near an immigration enforcement facility.

Tensions were high and an immigration officer deployed pepper spray at the individual, targeting the ventilation of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, remarking it tasted like "something milder". Yet the footage went viral.

The costume fit right in for Portland, known for its unconventional spirit and activist demonstrations that delight in the unusual – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

The costume became part of in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and Portland, which argued the deployment was unlawful.

While a judge decided that month that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, one judge dissented, mentioning demonstrators' "propensity for using unusual attire while voicing dissent."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which accepts the description of Portland as a war zone, as merely absurd," the dissenting judge wrote. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was stopped legally just a month later, and personnel are said to have left the city.

Yet already, the frog was now a powerful anti-administration symbol for the left.

The costume was spotted in many cities at No Kings protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in major US cities. They were in rural communities and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

This item was in high demand on major websites, and saw its cost increase.

Mastering the Optics

What brings the two amphibian symbols – lies in the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic is based on what Mr Bogad calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "appealing and non-threatening" act that calls attention to a message without needing obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit used, or the symbol circulated.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and an experienced participant. He's written a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to speak the truth a little bit and while maintaining a layer of protection."

The idea of this approach is multi-faceted, he explains.

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