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Latino leaders are urging Hispanics to join together to address common concerns and counter anti-immigrant attitudes gaining strength in Arizona and across the country. They're launching the Arizona Latino Research Enterprise, a group that will study issues affecting Hispanics and propose and pursue solutions for the problems they face. Recent approval of an anti-illegal immigrant initiative in Arizona and proposals in the legislature considered anti-Latino by some show a need for the state's Hispanics to ban together, said founding member Mario E. Diaz. "Power comes in numbers. The more Latinos that we have voicing their concerns to policymakers, that's what catches the attention," Diaz said during an ALRE's recruiting effort Wednesday. Currently, Latinos comprise about a quarter of Arizona's 5 million residents. And immigrants, many from Latin America, account for about a quarter of Arizona's overall growth. However, those demographic changes have spurred tension, much of it aimed at illegal immigrants. Although they provide cheap labor, others blame them for rising health care, education and social services costs. Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, has proposed giving local police agencies the power to investigate and detain illegal immigrants. Lawmakers have also proposed making English the official language of Arizona, preventing state and local agencies from printing documents such as water bills in Spanish or any other foreign language. Arizona voters have already approved Proposition 200, which requires proof of citizenship when registering to vote and proof of immigration status when obtaining certain government services. It punishes government workers who fail to report illegal immigrants who try to get benefits. "What's this scapegoating all about?" asked Antonio Villaraigosa, a candidate for Los Angeles mayor who spoke to potential ALRE members Wednesday. "We have to stand up when parts of our community are demonized." [more]