Racial vilification protest in Melbourne

More than a thousand people are expected to gather in Melbourne to protest the "criminalisation" of African-Australians and pay tribute to dead woman Laa Chol.

The crowd is due to gather outside the headquarters of Melbourne's Seven Network on Saturday afternoon, with organisers blaming the television broadcaster for spurring on anti-African sentiment.

"Seven's shameful campaign to denigrate the African community has seen our community declared guilty till proven innocent in the court of public opinion," event organisers posted on their Facebook page.

"The consequence of this vilification runs deeper than a simple narrative of 'law and order' but an implicit criminalisation of the entire African community."

The group previously demanded an apology from Seven for a Sunday Night program aired on July 8 which vowed to expose "African gangs running riot, terrorising, robbing, wreaking havoc" across Melbourne.

Senior federal politicians including Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull have weighed into the public debate about Melbourne's criminal gangs.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton made a link between gang activity and the death of 19-year-old Ms Chol at an apartment party.

Protest organisers asked participants to wear blue on Saturday in honour of Ms Chol.

Two youths have faced court in connection with her killing, one charged with murder and the other with being an accessary.