Up to 1000 people at a protest in the Nicholson Street mall called for councillors to be sacked over their decision to install a trial camera in April and another three in central Footscray that have been monitoring parking zones during the past three months.

Protest organiser Bon Nguyen asked the crowd: "Do they do [this] in Toorak? No! There are too many QCs there. No! There too many lawyers. They know that here we don't have the means [to fight it]. They take advantage of us."

Many in the crowd waved Australian flags and held signs indicating support from various ethnic communities, including Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Sudanese.

A man who spoke on behalf of Ethiopian traders said: "Our business is down. Every Ethiopian who has been around Footscray in the past two months has received a minimum of one fine and they no longer come to Footscray."

The $70 or $117 fines have poured $2.39million into the council's coffers, which, the council says, goes "directly back into the community".

Specifically, it has spent a lot on educating people about what it says are "safety" cameras.

So far, more than 2000 people have signed a petition against the cameras and all traders' groups are backing calls for their removal. Footscray Asian Business Association president Benny Binh Van Le said: "We let [the council] have the meter parking. They are already getting money ... [now] they are pushing customers away."

Cush Barrat, a young Ethiopian, urged the crowd to hold a sit-in overnight. "If you love Footscray, then represent Footscray," he said. "Let's sleep here tonight."

Protesters marched to the Maribyrnong Town Hall, where up to 40 people stormed the council chambers, yelling and waving placards.

The meeting was adjourned for 50 minutes, during which most councillors left. Police were called.

Maribyrnong's mayor, Sel Sanli, said he was disappointed in the behaviour of some protesters, who he said had damaged and stolen council property.

He said the message was clear. "It's quite simple: Don't park illegally and you won't get a fine," Cr Sanli said.