A nationwide event called the "March for Australia" is set to take place on Sunday, drawing mixed reactions from migrants across the country. Some individuals feel targeted by the march, while others defend the right to free speech. The marches, which are described as protests against mass migration, are scheduled in major cities.

Concerns have arisen due to the organizers' links to white nationalism. This connection has left some community members feeling "overwhelmed" and "worried" about potential targeting. Chole Jiang, a nurse who has lived in Melbourne for a decade, expressed her anxiety. "I feel a bit overwhelmed; I can't imagine there are so many people against immigrants," she said. Jiang noted that she has felt uneasy about going into Melbourne's central business district, fearing harassment due to her Chinese background. She also mentioned a warning she saw on social media about possible hostility towards migrants during the rally. "We are here to work, and we live just like any normal person would … [so] no need to be this racist against migrant workers," she added.

The international student community has also been affected by the planned marches. Some politicians have blamed these students for rising rents, despite studies showing no correlation. Last year, the federal government announced a cap on international student intake, but recently increased it by 9 percent to 295,000 for the upcoming year, focusing on students from Southeast Asia.

Mihir Kuvadiya, an Indian student who has lived in Melbourne for over two years, shared his perspective. He stated he has never experienced racism in Australia. "I found out people over here are really nice," he said. Kuvadiya acknowledged that negative behavior can sometimes be misinterpreted as racism, but he believes such incidents are common everywhere. He expressed confidence in the nation's foundation on immigration, saying, "If you are legal here, if you are paying taxes, I don't think anyone can take you out of this place because you're contributing something to the economy."

Some international students, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed that they were not surprised by the planned rallies. They noted that people have become "bolder and more aggressive" in their actions when there is no pushback against such sentiments.

Community groups have been proactive in advising their members to stay safe during the marches. Social media posts from culturally diverse organizations have urged individuals to "stay inside" on Sunday to avoid potential confrontations with right-wing protesters. One message circulating on WhatsApp advised, "We advise you not to travel to the city … unless it is essential to avoid unwanted incidents."

Solene Michel, who recently arrived in Australia on a Work and Holiday visa, plans to stay home during the rally. She learned about the event through social media and expressed her concerns about safety. "My friend told me about how racism is very much present in Melbourne and in Australia in general, and so she just told me to stay home," Michel said. She acknowledged that while "racism is everywhere," she wanted to be cautious.

Francis, who preferred not to share her last name, stated that everyone has the right to attend the rallies and express their views. An investigation revealed that some organizers of the March for Australia have shared white supremacy content online, including pro-Nazi and pro-Hitler memes. Francis, who moved to Australia from Hong Kong at a young age, shared her experience of not facing racism. She noted, "I don't have a lot of Asian friends; I grew up here … and my friend circle through my lifetime has been white people."

While she does not see migration as a problem, she expressed concern about migrants who do not integrate into the broader community. "I think the ones that actually make people uncomfortable and upset are the ones that don't want to integrate," she said. "They all have their little burrows of friends, and they don't really leave that. I have no problems with immigration as long as they integrate … instead of just holding [onto] what they had."