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About 60 people from the local Hispanic community gathered at the offices of Hispanics United of Buffalo Tuesday to watch and cheer the televised announcement. They were members of several local Hispanic groups that organized a petition campaign pushing the nomination of Sotomayor. Edwin Martinez is president of the Hispanic Alliance of Western New York. He said it is a proud and hopeful day for Hispanic Americans.

He said the petition campaign was started as soon as Justice David Souter announced his retirement. About 1,800 signatures were collected. About 15 different Hispanic groups also sent letters. Martinez said they didn't take the nomination for granted, despite President Obama's pledge to be inclusive.

And Hispanic community leaders say they know forces are still out there to thwart the appointment.

Paula Alcala Rosner has redoubled her efforts to have Sotomayor seated. Alcala Rosner is blogging and emailing about 400 of her friends and colleagues from across the country. She is giving them the contact information for their congressional representatives and tells them to make their voices heard. She knows opponents are scrounging Sotomayor's record for comments that could be used to weaken her chances at confirmation.

Hispanic leaders predict there will be backlash if Sotomayor is not confirmed. They say, if that should happen, a locally organized protest is already being organized. . © Copyright 2009, WBFO