From Far-Right Meme to Resistance Symbol: This Unexpected Story of the Frog

This resistance isn't broadcast, yet it might possess amphibious toes and large eyes.

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

Whilst demonstrations against the leadership persist in American cities, participants are adopting the vibe of a community costume parade. They've provided dance instruction, distributed treats, and performed on unicycles, as armed law enforcement look on.

Combining comedy and political action – a strategy researchers call "tactical frivolity" – is not new. Yet it has transformed into a hallmark of protests in the United States in this period, adopted by both left and right.

One particular emblem has risen to become particularly salient – the frog. It originated after recordings of an encounter between a protester in a frog suit and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, spread online. And it has since spread to demonstrations across the country.

"There is much at play with that little blow-up amphibian," states a professor, a professor at University of California, Davis and an academic who specialises in creative activism.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It's hard to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, a cartoon character co-opted by far-right groups during an election cycle.

Initially, when this image gained popularity on the internet, it was used to express certain emotions. Later, its use evolved to endorse a political figure, including a particular image shared by the candidate himself, portraying Pepe with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and established digital currency in his name. Its famous line, "that feels good", became an inside joke.

Yet Pepe didn't start out as a political symbol.

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has stated about his distaste for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply a "chill frog-dude" in this artist's universe.

This character first appeared in an online comic 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 creation, he stated his drawing came from his experiences with companions.

As he started out, Mr Furie experimented with sharing his art to early internet platforms, where people online began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. When the meme proliferated into darker parts of the internet, Mr Furie sought to reject his creation, even killing him off in a comic strip.

However, its legacy continued.

"This demonstrates that we don't control icons," states Prof Bogad. "They transform and be reclaimed."

Previously, the popularity of Pepe resulted in frogs were largely associated with conservative politics. This shifted in early October, when a viral moment between an activist dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland spread rapidly online.

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

Emotions ran high and an agent deployed irritant at the individual, directing it into the ventilation of the puffy frog costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, saying it tasted like "something milder". However, the video became a sensation.

Mr Todd's attire fit right in for the city, renowned for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that revel in the absurd – outdoor exercise, 80s-style aerobics lessons, and unique parades. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol became part of in the ensuing legal battle between the federal government and the city, which argued the use of troops was unlawful.

Although a judge decided that month that the president had the right to send personnel, one judge dissented, mentioning demonstrators' "propensity for using unusual attire when expressing dissent."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which adopts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as merely absurd," Judge Susan Graber wrote. "However, this ruling goes beyond absurdity."

The deployment was "permanently" blocked soon after, and personnel have reportedly departed the city.

But by then, the amphibian costume had become a potent protest icon for the left.

This symbol was seen nationwide at No Kings protests last autumn. There were frogs – and unicorns and axolotls and dinosaurs – in major US cities. They appeared in small towns and global metropolises like Tokyo and London.

The inflatable suit was backordered on major websites, and became more expensive.

Controlling the Visual Story

What connects the two amphibian symbols – lies in the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and a deeper political meaning. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach relies on what the professor terms a "disarming display" – frequently absurd, it's a "disarming and charming" display that highlights a cause without needing obviously explaining them. This is the silly outfit you wear, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He authored a text called 'Tactical Performance', and taught workshops internationally.

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

The idea of such tactics is three-fold, he says.

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