The AP has a brief on the two competing rallies—a solidarity rally staged by local unions for the state employees in Wisconsin and a solidarity rally staged by conservatives for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

The lefty rally was reportedly much bigger: 2000 plus vs. a few hundred.

The pro-union rally was the bigger of the two, with more than half a dozen unions sending members. They sang songs and held signs that said "Solidarity With Wisconsin" and "Unions Make Us Strong."

Tea party and conservative groups held a counter rally on the Capitol steps. Organizers estimated a few hundred people. Many of them filled petitions to "Stand with Walker."

The Our Economic Future Coalition, a group supporting state Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles' (D-36, Ballard) bill to close hundreds of tax loopholes and reconsider them as budget expenditures, released a press statement this afternoon:

“The unchecked greed of Wall Street caused this recession,” said Kelly Fox, President of the Washington State Council of Firefighters.

Speakers called for closing tax loopholes, going after deadbeat corporations, and making the very wealthy pay their fair share instead of cutting middle class services for our kids and our communities.

“My job is public safety,” said Sergeant Michael Boe of the Monroe Correctional Complex. “My job is middle class, not second class.”

...

“What’s happening in Wisconsin and other states isn’t just an attack on nurses, teachers and other public servants,” said Kate Severson, a nurse at Western State Hospital. “It’s an attack on patients, communities, and our basic values.”