Just 13 hours before a possible state government shutdown, union members and activist groups rallied outside the Capitol Thursday morning to support Gov. Mark Dayton's plan to raise taxes.

"This possible shutdown is the symptom of a big gaping hole in our state," Brian Rusche with the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition told several hundred people on the Capitol steps. "And that's the lack of revenue raised fairly that we need to achieve a humane and just and balanced approach to our budget."

Protestors chanted "The people united will never be defeated" and held signs like "Great wealth = Great responsibility."

"If an all-cuts budget is passed without new revenue, this shutdown will be just a preview of the longterm pain a budget like that will cause," said Minnesota AFL-CIO president Shar Knutson.

Organizers paused the program briefly so attendees could call lawmakers.

Jeff Disch, who lives near Stillwater, called the office of Majority Leader Matt Dean to ask that he "do something on the revenue side of the budget."

"The state really needs the money," Disch said later. "I don't think we're living beyond our means."

Mary Cecconi with Parents United for Public Schools said while the proposals spare K-12 education, that means other areas of the budget will face cuts.

"Unless we raise revenue, the proposals to hold current funding for schools will come on the backs of the critical parts of the state budget," Cecconi told the crowd.