Parts of the Melbourne CBD were brought to a standstill this afternoon, as protesters rallied in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign.

A number of high-profile sport stars lent their voices to the cause, while police were on high alert amid fears the protest could be hijacked.

The rally made its way down Swanston Street before staging a sit-in at Flinders Street Station.

A strong police contingent, including the riot squad, were in attendance.

No arrests were made.

A small group of masked counter-protesters displayed a “Blue Lives Matter” banner while standing on the steps of the State Library of Victoria during speeches, in an apparent nod to the recent shootings of police officers in Dallas, Texas.

A brief verbal scuffle ensued between far right attendees and Black Lives Matters supporters, however they were quickly circled and controlled by police.

Despite being caught up in a verbal stoush with protesters shouting “refugees welcome, racists get out”, Alan, who did not wish to have his surname printed, said he did not attend the rally to cause trouble.

“I just happened to be in the city with my family,” he said.

He said he was not a member of the United Patriots Front – a far right extremist group.

Demonstrators outside Flinders Street Station. (Getty)

“I do personally feel that Australia is being taken over by immigrants and we’re losing our way of life,” he said.

A masked protester said he was from the group Anonymous.

“We are against the use of violence, and those who have committed acts of violence. They claim to be on behalf of the group,” one masked man said.



“We want to improve the image of us as a non-violent protest group.

“When asked why their faces were covered, the man said “people like the [far-right group] United Patriots Front want to hunt us down and try and inflict their violence and terror upon us.”

While more than 8000 people expressed interest in attending on the rally’s Facebook page, it is believed closer to 1000 people attended.

Rally organiser and Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance member Yarramun Conole, said the event also aimed to raise awareness for Indigenous Australians.

"The government really doesn't care for black lives in this country. For 200 years we have lived under genocide,” she said.

Ms Conole addressed the death of Aboriginal woman Ms Dhu, who died two days after being locked up at South Hedland Police Station in August 2014.

A Senior Constable later accepted findings of an internal investigation that saw her handed an official warning for failing to carry out her duties in not believing Ms Dhu was seriously ill.

A sign at the rally at the State Library of Victoria. (9NEWS)

"We are pleading with people to see our humanity and stop killing us in custody, it's horrific. I don't really have any words,” she said.

"It's time we brought the black lives matter movement to Australia to affirm that our lives matter. We are the people who are most vulnerable in this country."

Former Essendon footballer and Indigenous rights activist Nathan Lovett-Murray was among those taking part in the rally.

“Similar stuff is happening here [to the US], black deaths in custody is something that we need to stop, and hopefully we can raise awareness to stop all that happening,” Mr Lovett-Murray said.

Another speaker said: “It’s not about ‘all cops are pigs’. They’re not… It’s about fixing a broken justice system.”

Organisers had stressed the rally would be “peaceful” and ordered attendees “no weapons and no violence”.

The rally follows a Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas, Texas in response to the killings of African-American men Alton Sterling and Philando Castile by police in the US.

A lone shooter opened fire on officers at the rally, killing five and injuring 11 others.