The Journey of Right-Wing Meme to Protest Symbol: This Surprising Evolution of the Frog

This resistance may not be televised, but it could have webbed feet and protruding eyes.

Furthermore, it may involve a unicorn's horn or a chicken's feathers.

While demonstrations opposing the government persist in American cities, protesters are utilizing the spirit of a community costume parade. They've provided salsa lessons, handed out treats, and performed on unicycles, as armed law enforcement observe.

Combining humour and politics – an approach experts call "tactical frivolity" – has historical precedent. Yet it has transformed into a defining feature of protests in the United States in this period, adopted by all sides of the political spectrum.

And one symbol has proven to be especially powerful – the frog. It originated after a video of a confrontation between a man in an amphibian costume and federal officers in Portland, Oregon, became an internet sensation. And it has since spread to protests throughout the United States.

"A great deal going on with that humble frog costume," says a professor, who teaches at University of California, Davis and an academic who studies political performance.

The Path From a Cartoon Frog to the Streets of Portland

It is difficult to discuss demonstrations and amphibians without mentioning Pepe, an illustrated figure adopted by far-right groups during a previous presidential campaign.

Initially, when this image gained popularity on the internet, its purpose was to express certain emotions. Afterwards, it was deployed to endorse a candidate, even a particular image shared by that figure personally, showing the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

The frog was also portrayed in right-wing online communities in darker contexts, as a historical dictator. Participants traded "rare Pepes" and established cryptocurrency using its likeness. Its famous line, "that feels good", became a shared phrase.

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

The artist behind it, the illustrator, has expressed about his disapproval for its co-option. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in this artist's universe.

The frog debuted in an online comic in the mid-2000s – apolitical and famous for a particular bathroom habit. In 'Feels Good Man', which documents Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his work, he said the character was inspired by his experiences with friends and roommates.

As he started out, Mr Furie experimented with uploading his work to the nascent social web, where other users began to copy, alter, and reinterpret his character. When the meme proliferated into fringe areas of the internet, the creator tried to disavow the frog, including ending its life in a comic strip.

Yet the frog persisted.

"It shows that creators cannot own icons," explains Prof Bogad. "They can change and shift and be reworked."

Previously, the notoriety of Pepe resulted in amphibian imagery were largely associated with the right. But that changed recently, when an incident between an activist wearing an inflatable frog costume and a federal agent in Portland spread rapidly online.

The moment came just days after a directive to send the National Guard to the city, which was called "a warzone". Protesters began to gather in droves at a specific location, near an immigration enforcement facility.

The situation was tense and an agent used pepper spray at a protester, aiming directly into the air intake fan of the costume.

Seth Todd, the man in the costume, responded with a joke, saying he had tasted "spicier tamales". However, the video went viral.

The costume was somewhat typical for Portland, famous for its eccentric vibe and activist demonstrations that embrace the unusual – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. The city's unofficial motto is "Embrace the Strange."

The frog became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the federal government and the city, which argued the deployment was illegal.

While a judge decided in October that the administration had the right to send personnel, one judge dissented, noting in her opinion demonstrators' "well-known penchant for using unusual attire while voicing their disagreement."

"Some might view the majority's ruling, which accepts the government's characterization as a battlefield, as simply ridiculous," she stated. "However, this ruling has serious implications."

The deployment was stopped legally just a month later, and troops withdrew from the city.

However, by that time, the amphibian costume had transformed into a potent symbol of resistance for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was spotted across the country at No Kings protests last autumn. Amphibian costumes were present – 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 major websites, and rose in price.

Controlling the Visual Story

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the interplay between the humorous, benign cartoon and serious intent. Experts call this "tactical frivolity."

This approach is based on what the professor calls a "disarming display" – often silly, it acts as a "appealing and non-threatening" display that highlights a message without needing explicitly stating them. This is the unusual prop used, or the meme you share.

Mr Bogad is both an expert in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He authored a book on the subject, and taught workshops around the world.

"You could go back to historical periods – when people are dominated, they use absurdity to express dissent indirectly and while maintaining a layer of protection."

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

When activists confront a powerful opposition, a silly costume {takes control of|seizes|influences