Taken From Lauri Roberts in AZ

``We are now less than 48 hours until Senate Bill 1070 becomes the law of the state – unless, of course, Judge Susan Bolton nixes the whole thing.

Already, the barricades are up at the Sandra Day O’Connor Federal Courthouse where Bolton works, awaiting thousands of expected protestors. Busloads of folks will be coming in from California to join with Arizona opponents of the new law.

Events kick off Thursday at 4 a.m. with a procession from the state Capitol to the Trinity Cathedral for an interfaith service that is being characterized as “one of hope, faith and defiance.”

At 8 a.m., the group will march to the federal courthouse where an act of civil disobedience is planned. “At this time, that appears to be to step upon the platform separating the public sidewalk from the Courthouse,” according to a document being circulated by organizers.

As acts of civil disobedience go, that doesn't sound exactly earth shattering. But things could get out of hand pretty easily unless some cool heads prevail on both sides.

Speaking of cool heads, Sheriff Joe has gotten a whiff of Thursday’s doings. Here is his statement on the subject, sent out this morning:

“Thousands of people will reportedly descend upon Maricopa County this week in support of or in protest to SB1070. Intelligence gathering leads us to believe that several acts of civil disobedience are planned - here at my office headquarters in the Wells Fargo Bank high rise in downtown Phoenix; at the jails including Tent City and at Thursday’s crime suppression operation which will be conducted by my deputies and posse members.

“Activists and their celebrity sympathizers who wish to target this community and this Sheriff by attempting to disrupt our jail and patrol operations will be unsuccessful as we will be fully prepared to meet those challenges head on with appropriately staffed personnel and resources.”

Angry protestors, an angry sheriff and plenty of TV cameras.

This has trouble written all over it.

I don't know what Thursday's protests seek to accomplish. What I do know is that they won't change a thing. If fact, if anything the foxholes on both sides will just be dug in all the deeper.''

Taken from Lauri Roberts' Columns and Blog