Pay attention--or else

The AP has the story about activists registering Latino voters. Immigrant rights groups have a message for unsympathetic politicians around the country: Change your stand or risk getting voted out of office. A coalition of unions, Hispanic activists and religious groups is trying to convert the massive street protests of recent months into long-term political power by launching nationwide citizenship and voter registration drives Saturday in at least 19 states. The effort known as "Democracy Summer" aims to register a million new voters and convince many of the 8 million legal residents in this country to apply for citizenship. Such applications are already up nearly 20 percent over past year - possibly boosted by more interest in political participation and fear that immigration laws will change. "We want to make sure no politician will dare propose the criminalization of immigrants in the future," said Angela Sembrano, a top organizer in Los Angeles.