The first step in the national disobedience campaign was to oppose the Salt Laws, laws which made it illegal to prepare salt from sea-water because it would deny the British co lonial government its tax. The Congress passed a resolution giving Gandhi the power to organize the campaign. On 6 April 1930, Gandhi stepped on Dandi beach and evaporated sea water to obtain salt crystals, encouraging anyone willing to risk prosecution to do the same. There was also a national boycott of imports, specifically of British goods. Because the national press was forbidden to report news regarding government repression, the satyagrahis produced their own leaflets.