The same group of dissenting priests continued their campaign of criticism and formed Shōshinkai to organize their efforts into a movement. Despite repeated admonitions from the new High Priest Nikken and Nichiren Shōshū leadership to cease and desist, Shōshinkai went ahead with a major rally on 24 August 1980. Due to this dissension, Nikken and the senior Nichiren Shōshū leadership punished a number of priests for their involvement, including five excommunications. The Shōshinkai priests involved with the excommunication responded that such act was ineffective because the punishment was done by an illegitimate High Priest.