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

The protest movement won't be televised, but it could have amphibious toes and protruding eyes.

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

While rallies against the administration persist in American cities, protesters are utilizing the spirit of a community costume parade. They have taught dance instruction, distributed snacks, and ridden unicycles, while police watch.

Combining comedy and politics – a strategy researchers refer to as "tactical frivolity" – is not new. But it has become a hallmark of US demonstrations in the current era, used by various groups.

And one symbol has proven to be particularly salient – the frog. It originated after recordings of an encounter between a protester in a frog suit and ICE agents in Portland, Oregon, went viral. And it has since spread to protests across the country.

"There's a lot at play with that little blow-up amphibian," says a professor, a professor at UC Davis and a Guggenheim Fellow who studies creative activism.

From the Pepe Meme to Portland

It's challenging to talk about demonstrations and amphibians without talking about Pepe, an illustrated figure embraced by far-right groups during a political race.

Initially, when this image initially spread on the internet, its purpose was to signal specific feelings. Later, its use evolved to show support for a candidate, including one notable meme shared by that figure personally, showing the frog with recognizable attire and hairstyle.

Images also circulated in right-wing online communities in offensive ways, portrayed as a historical dictator. Users exchanged "rare Pepes" and set up cryptocurrency in his name. His catchphrase, "that feels good", became an inside joke.

But its beginnings were not this divisive.

Matt Furie, artist Matt Furie, has been vocal about his distaste for how the image has been used. Pepe was supposed to be simply an apolitical figure in his series.

The frog first appeared in comic strips in the mid-2000s – non-political and notable for a particular bathroom habit. In a documentary, which documents Mr Furie's efforts to take back of his work, he stated the character came from his experiences with friends and roommates.

When he began, Mr Furie tried uploading his work to early internet platforms, where the community began to borrow, remix and reinvent the frog. As Pepe spread into the more extreme corners of the internet, Mr Furie tried to disavow his creation, even killing him off in a final panel.

But Pepe lived on.

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

Previously, the association of Pepe meant that frogs became a symbol for the right. A transformation occurred on a day in October, when a viral moment between a protestor dressed in a blow-up amphibian suit and a federal agent in Portland, Oregon went viral.

This incident occurred shortly after a directive to deploy military personnel to Portland, which was called "a warzone". Activists began to assemble in large numbers at a specific location, just outside of an ICE office.

Tensions were high and a officer sprayed irritant at the individual, aiming directly into the opening of the puffy frog costume.

The individual, Seth Todd, responded with a joke, remarking it tasted like "spicier tamales". But the incident went viral.

The frog suit was not too unusual for the city, known for its quirky culture and activist demonstrations that delight in the absurd – public yoga, retro fitness classes, and nude cycling groups. A local saying is "Embrace the Strange."

This symbol became part of in subsequent court proceedings between the administration and the city, which argued the deployment was illegal.

While a judge decided that month that the administration was within its rights to deploy troops, one judge dissented, referencing in her ruling demonstrators' "known tendency for using unusual attire when expressing opposition."

"It is easy to see the court's opinion, which adopts the government's characterization as a war zone, as simply ridiculous," the dissenting judge wrote. "But today's decision is not merely absurd."

The order was stopped legally subsequently, and personnel have reportedly departed the city.

However, by that time, the frog was now a powerful anti-administration symbol for progressive movements.

The inflatable suit was seen in many cities at anti-authoritarian protests that fall. There were frogs – along with other creatures – in San Diego and Atlanta and Boston. They appeared in rural communities and big international cities abroad.

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

Shaping the Narrative

What brings Pepe and the protest frog – is the dynamic between the silly, innocent image and serious intent. This is what "tactical frivolity."

The tactic relies on what the professor calls the "irresistible image" – often silly, it's a "disarming and charming" performance that calls attention to a cause without needing directly articulating them. It's the silly outfit used, or the symbol you share.

The professor is both an expert in the subject and a veteran practitioner. He's written a book on the subject, and taught workshops internationally.

"One can look back to the Middle Ages – under oppressive regimes, absurd humor is used to speak the truth indirectly and while maintaining plausible deniability."

The purpose of this approach is three-fold, he says.

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