The Journey of Far-Right Icon to Protest Icon: The Surprising Transformation of the Frog

This protest movement may not be televised, yet it might possess webbed feet and protruding eyes.

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

As protests opposing the leadership carry on in US cities, demonstrators have embraced the energy of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've offered salsa lessons, distributed snacks, and performed on unicycles, while police observe.

Blending levity and political action – a strategy social scientists term "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. But it has become a hallmark of protests in the United States in recent years, embraced by all sides of the political spectrum.

One particular emblem has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It originated when recordings of a confrontation between a man in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. From there, it proliferated to demonstrations throughout the United States.

"There is much going on with that little inflatable frog," states a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who focuses on creative activism.

From Pepe to the Streets of Portland

It's challenging to talk about protests and frogs without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by extremist movements during a political race.

As the meme first took off online, people used it to convey specific feelings. Subsequently, it was deployed to show support for a political figure, including a particular image retweeted by that figure personally, portraying the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Images also circulated in certain internet forums in darker contexts, as a hate group member. Online conservatives exchanged "rare Pepes" and established digital currency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a coded signal.

But the character did not originate as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, artist Matt Furie, has stated about his disapproval for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

This character debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which chronicles the creator's attempt to wrest back control of his work, he stated his drawing came from his life with companions.

Early in his career, Mr Furie tried sharing his art to new websites, where other users began to borrow, remix and reinvent his character. As Pepe spread into fringe areas of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject the frog, even killing him off in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"This demonstrates that we don't control icons," says Prof Bogad. "Their meaning can evolve and be reclaimed."

Previously, the association of Pepe meant that frogs became a symbol for conservative politics. This shifted in early October, when a confrontation between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland, Oregon spread rapidly online.

The event followed an order to send military personnel to the city, which was called "war-ravaged". Protesters began to congregate on a single block, near a federal building.

The situation was tense and an agent used pepper spray at a protester, directing it into the air intake fan of the inflatable suit.

Seth Todd, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating he had tasted "something milder". However, the video spread everywhere.

The costume was somewhat typical for Portland, famous for its unconventional spirit and left-wing protests that revel in the ridiculous – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and unique parades. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol was also referenced in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and the city, which contended the deployment was illegal.

Although the court ruled in October that the administration had the right to deploy troops, a minority opinion disagreed, mentioning demonstrators' "propensity for using unusual attire while voicing their disagreement."

"Observers may be tempted the court's opinion, which adopts the description of Portland as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "But today's decision goes beyond absurdity."

The action was halted by courts soon after, and personnel have reportedly departed the area.

However, by that time, the frog was now a potent protest icon for the left.

This symbol was seen in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests last autumn. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in small towns and big international cities abroad.

The inflatable suit was in high demand on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Shaping the Narrative

The link between Pepe and the protest frog – lies in the interplay between the silly, innocent image and underlying political significance. This concept is "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that calls attention to your ideas without needing obviously explaining them. It's the unusual prop you wear, or the meme 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 led seminars internationally.

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

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

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