This photo was taken on August 30, 1972. It shows the registration tables in the lobby of the Paso Del Norte hotel in El Paso, Texas as delegates registered for the National Convention of the La Raza Unida Political Party. The La Raza Unida (United People) Political Party arose in 1969 in response to how Mexican Americans and other Latinos had either been ignored or taken for granted by the two dominant political parties–Republicans and Democrats. After sweeping victories in many South Texas towns, the La Raza Unida party convened a national convention to hammer out further ways of empowering Latino voters. Although short lived,  the La Raza Unida party would inspire subsequent groups like the Southwest Voter Registration project to conduct massive voter registration projects that put both Democrats and Republicans on notice that the Latino vote was not to be taken for granted.

A Historic Moment in Time.  Photo credit and copyright by Jesús Treviño.