Nonviolent protests were planned and carried out all across the country last June to achieve one goal: resist the “king-like, tyrannical policies” of President Donald Trump and the Trump administration.

Known as the No Kings protests, these demonstrations numbered over 1,600 and took place in all 50 states. Gathering locations ranged from large cities such as Los Angeles to small, rural towns such as New Philadelphia, Ohio.

These peaceful protests were repeated later in October. They drew seven million people nationwide.

Senior Ana Merker attended one of the October protests outside Solon City Hall. She said she wants the Trump administration to pay attention to the people attending No Kings.

“I want him to see [that] your people are mad at you,” Merker said. “Your people do not agree with what you’re doing. This is our country, too. It’s not just your place to boss everything around. The whole point of America is [that] the people talk, the people’s ideas.”

Merker said she thinks that the messaging of No Kings is powerful.

“I think that [No Kings is] definitely very effective in the message it’s sending across,” Merker said. “It’s very clear and concise. I just support the overall idea of we don’t want tyrants— this isn’t a dictatorship, this isn’t a monarchy.”

Apart from No Kings, in recent months, a plethora of political demonstrations have taken place to protest against actions taken by the Trump administration and its actors.

In January, the organization ICE Out For Good arranged peaceful protests across the nation as a reaction to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis.

Junior Myla Gallagher attended one of these protests.

“It’s just not right, it’s not right,” Gallagher said. “Immigrants built this country. They’re also just killing people in the streets. It’s just not right at all.”

While Gallagher has not been able to attend a No Kings protest, she is aware of them and in support of their messaging.

“I don’t think we should have kings in America,” Gallagher said. “That’s not what it is, you know? I got an A in history, so I know what’s up.”

So, what exactly is the message No Kings is trying to convey to the American people and the Trump administration?

On the No Kings website, it’s clearly stated: “No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.”

But what specifically does this phrase mean?

Does this phrase mean we should push our lawmakers to start motions to impeach Trump? Should we fight to get ICE defunded and hold violent ICE agents accountable? Should we do more to expose the corrupt actions of Trump and his billionaire donors?

Well, it doesn’t exactly say.

Its website is completely devoid of any information on any recent policies, executive orders or actions taken by the Trump administration. If people are going to resist Trump, how can they if they have no information on what his administration is actively doing?

Not only is the website lacking any updates about the current administration, there is no information about anything substantial that the organization has achieved.

Yes, millions of people marching in the streets and gathering all throughout America is extremely impressive and a solid step towards change. In fact, the March 23 No Kings protests were the largest single day of protests in U.S. history. But, you need to do something with these people willing to protest.

“I think peaceful protests are a great form of starting the political conversation for so many topics that are trying to be shut down in silence,” Merker said. “You can’t silence thousands of people marching through cities.”

Merker is right. You can’t silence thousands of millions of people marching through American streets. But, you can smother a message by creating and promoting a campaign that has no clear goals or solutions to the problems it wants to confront.

No Kings doesn’t have any clear theory of how it will accomplish any of its goals. There are no points of leverage, institutions built or tangible goals achieved by the movement– a word it can hardly be called considering there have only been three events in a nine month time span.

After the Minneapolis killings by ICE in January, No Kings did not lunge at the opportunity to bring rightfully aggrieved people together in the streets for another round of protests. They decided to wait until March, a two-month time period, before planning to take action.

Despite this laggard planning, Ezra Levin, the co-founder and co-executive director of the organization Indivisible, a prominent organizer behind the No Kings rallies, told the Associated Press that America’s political situation today “demands…persistent engagement. ”

Persistent, continuous engagement with the American public is not two singular days of protest over the course of almost a year. It is constant and unrelenting.

During the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Civil Rights leaders did not just plan a singular day of protests. The Montgomery bus system was boycotted by thousands of people for 381 days. This boycott did not just end arbitrarily– it only stopped because the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a lower court decision which declared segregated seating on Montgomery buses unconstitutional.

The 1960 Greensboro Sit-In Movement, which began when four black college students refused to leave a “whites-only” lunch counter after being denied service, lasted from February to July. The sit-ins only ended when the original lunch counter was desegregated.

In 1961, the Freedom Riders rode buses through the segregated South to challenge discriminatory state laws on public transport. They faced extreme violence from white mobs. The images of the violence pressured the Interstate Commerce Commission to issue regulations banning segregation in all interstate bus terminals and facilities.

These actions are what truly persistent political demonstrations look like. If the organization wants to truly have an impact, No Kings must emulate this.

The No Kings leadership must expand their mass, general boycott they have planned on May 1 and make it interminable. Instead of just being a general boycott, they must target specific companies that have donated to the Trump Administration. They must pressure lawmakers not to vote for laws proposed by the Trump Administration. They must do something that will make Trump actually feel the people’s anger.

But, this doesn’t need to start with the leaders. It can start with the people. It can start with you.

If you’re planning to take part in the No Kings May Day boycotts on May 1, by all means, go ahead. But do not just regurgitate the worn-out ideas of “no dictators” that amount to no true change.

Think about what exactly needs to change. What laws should be repealed? What lawmakers should be held accountable? What policies of the Trump Administration need to be targeted?

Instead of a witty sign, spread messages of direct action. This is the only way to truly stop authoritarianism.