Dozens of activists gathered outside the Orleans Parish Criminal District courthouse to raise their voices, saying the city doesn’t need a bigger prison.

The sheriff’s office says he needs more beds to accommodate the growing inmate population and to keep the city safe.

“I want less incarceration, more education, and more jobs for the people in our city,” said protester Austin Washington.

Members from New Orleans’ Stand With Dignity, Congress of Day Laborers and Fight for $15 traveled around the city questioning the judicial system, because they say it’s holding the community back.

“This system is creating and breathing violence because people can’t get ahead,” said Henry Love.

Demonstrators continued the march by walking from the courthouse to central booking.

Protestors like Roy Brunfield finished the demonstration by marching to Municipal Court and stopping at Sheriff Gusman’s office. They want to know his true intentions for the expansion.

“We’re asking that Gusman come and have a sit down meeting with us about his true intentions on why he wants to build a larger prison,” said Brunfield.

But that sit down did not happen.