Protestors across US decry Wis. anti-union efforts

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Protestors are gathering across the country to rally against proposed laws in Wisconsin and other states aimed at weakening unions and stripping public workers from collective bargaining rights.

Union supporters organized rallies from New York to Washington state on Saturday in a show of solidarity. But the hotbed remains in Madison, where about 70,000 people descended on the Wisconsin Capitol.

It's the largest crowd yet since protests began nearly two weeks ago against a Republican bill that would strip nearly all public workers of most collective bargaining rights.

Several thousand people also gathered in Columbus, Ohio, where lawmakers are considering a similar bill.

Large crowds of teachers, firefighters and other public workers also gathered for rallies in other capital cities including Denver; Topeka, Kan.; Harrisburg, Pa.; and Olympia, Wash.