The Journey of Far-Right Symbol to Anti-ICE Icon: This Unexpected Story of the Amphibian

This resistance isn't broadcast, but it could have amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

While rallies against the government persist in American cities, participants have embraced the spirit of a neighborhood dress-up party. They've provided salsa lessons, handed out treats, and performed on unicycles, as police watch.

Combining humour and political action – an approach researchers call "tactical frivolity" – isn't novel. But it has become a defining feature of American protest in this period, embraced by various groups.

A specific icon has risen to become particularly salient – the frog. It originated after a video of a confrontation between a man in an amphibian costume and ICE agents in the city of Portland, spread online. From there, it proliferated to rallies throughout the United States.

"A great deal happening with that little frog costume," says an expert, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who studies political performance.

From Pepe to Portland

It's challenging to examine demonstrations and amphibians without addressing Pepe, a cartoon character adopted by extremist movements during a political race.

Initially, when the meme gained popularity online, its purpose was to express certain emotions. Subsequently, its use evolved to express backing for a political figure, including a particular image retweeted by the candidate himself, depicting the frog with a signature suit and hair.

Pepe was also depicted in right-wing online communities in more extreme scenarios, as a historical dictator. Online conservatives traded "unique frog images" and set up digital currency using its likeness. His catchphrase, "that feels good", was used an inside joke.

However Pepe didn't start out this divisive.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for how the image has been used. The character was intended as simply a relaxed amphibian in his series.

This character debuted in comic strips in 2005 – non-political and famous for a quirky behavior. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents Mr Furie's efforts to reclaim ownership of his work, he said the character was inspired by his time with companions.

As he started out, the artist experimented with uploading his work to new websites, where the community began to copy, alter, and reinterpret the frog. As its popularity grew into darker parts of online spaces, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

But Pepe lived on.

"It shows the lack of control over symbols," says the professor. "They can change and shift and be reworked."

Previously, the popularity of Pepe meant that amphibian imagery were predominantly linked to the right. But that changed in early October, when an incident between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and an immigration officer in Portland captured global attention.

The moment came just days after a decision to send the National Guard to Portland, which was described as "war-ravaged". Activists began to assemble in large numbers outside a facility, just outside of an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and an immigration officer sprayed a chemical agent at a protester, directing it into the ventilation of the inflatable suit.

The individual, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, stating he had tasted "spicier tamales". However, the video went viral.

Mr Todd's attire was somewhat typical for the city, famous for its quirky culture and left-wing protests that delight in the absurd – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Keep Portland Weird."

The frog became part of in a lawsuit between the federal government and Portland, which contended the deployment overstepped authority.

Although the court ruled that month that the administration was within its rights to send personnel, one judge dissented, referencing in her ruling the protesters' "known tendency for donning inflatable costumes when expressing opposition."

"Some might view this decision, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," she stated. "Yet the outcome goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was halted by courts subsequently, and personnel withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had become a potent protest icon for the left.

The inflatable suit was seen across the country at anti-authoritarian protests recently. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They were in small towns and big international cities like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was sold out on online retailers, and saw its cost increase.

Shaping the Narrative

What connects Pepe and the protest frog – is the dynamic between the humorous, benign cartoon and underlying political significance. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The strategy relies on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – usually humorous, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" display that draws focus to a cause without needing directly articulating them. This is the silly outfit used, or the meme you share.

The professor is an analyst on this topic and an experienced participant. He's written a book called 'Tactical Performance', and led seminars internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, they use absurdity to express dissent a little bit and still have plausible deniability."

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

As activists confront a powerful opposition, humorous attire {takes control of|seizes|influences