By  SUNNY LIU 

"It’s modern-day genocide. My son is only five, and I’m standing up for his future," said Yorta Yorta member Kerri Walker, as a protest against the forced closure of Aboriginal communities took over central Melbourne on Friday night.

More than 12,000 people paralysed evening peak hour traffic, rallying from 4pm outside Melbourne City Town Hall and marching  to  Flinders St Station.

The Federal Government’s plan to close down remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia has triggered a series of protests over the past few months. This one was led by the Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance.

Ms Walker said the protest was necessary to raise awareness of the issu“If it's not on the news, a lot of people don’t know what’s happening in their own backyard. By protesting … people will wonder ‘why?’ and they will get the answer – Tony Abbott is trying to take our people off the country that we have owned for over 200 years.”

Ms Walker said that the mining resources in these remote Aboriginal areas were the reason behind the forced closure of the communities.

“It's wrong," she said.

An Aboriginal community member, who preferred to remain anonymous, said Tony Abbott "won't win".

"The land belongs to us and there are so many supports from around the world for us. It’s our land,” he said.

A large number of police attended, including a dozen on horseback. The protest was peaceful and there were no arrests

A large number of non-indigenous Australians both young and old marched with Indigenous Australians.

Jenny Richardson said she strongly supported the cause.

“We stole their land and their identities. Sometimes I feel ashamed being an Australian when I look back at the history,” Ms Richardson said.

Melbourne commuter James Chan was frustrated by the disruption.

“They have blocked the tram conjunctions, so I cannot take a tram to go home. I know what they are facing is tough, but the protests have brought a big inconvenience to commuters like me,” Mr Chan said.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said that living in remote Aboriginal communities was a “lifestyle choice,” which the taxpayers should not be funding. Mr Abbott's “lifestyle” comment was widely criticised at the march.