Hundreds are attending an anti-racism march in the city centre.
The annual gathering Grand Parade coincides with the United Nations' World Anti-Racism Day.
The march is supported by groups including Anti-Deportation Ireland, Black Lives Matter, Fermoy and Mallow Against Racism and five Traveller advocacy groups.
Organisers say they have not been notified of any potential counter demonstrations.
Speaking to RedFM News, Joe Moore from Cork Says No to Racism claims the far right are using issues such as the housing crisis to target asylum seekers:
"The housing crisis would exist if there was never any refugees or asylum seekers coming here. And it's important, as well, to state that people are not entitled to apply for public housing unless they are legally resident in the state; in other words, they cannot be asylum seekers. They must have gotten legal permission to remain".
