Cops continue protest charges despite struck-down laws

An activist accused of theft during a violent rally has maintained her innocence as protesters called for charges to be dropped.

Maureen Howard pleaded not guilty to larceny at the Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, days after laws used to police the controversial protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog were ruled unconstitutional.

Howard's lawyer said the Maritime Union employee was ready to proceed to a hearing and contest the charge, but there was a small issue with the evidence provided by prosecutors.

"The bodycam footage is the wrong bodycam ... (it shows) somebody else," solicitor Kirk Bond said.

Notwithstanding the bodycam issue, the matter will proceed to hearing on December 10.

Before her case was heard, a crowd of 30 gathered outside to urge prosecutors to drop charges against the 10 protesters who had been arrested and charged at the February rally after laws that restricted protests were struck down on Thursday.

The measures restricting protests, which were in place during the Herzog demonstration, had been rushed through NSW parliament following the Bondi massacre.

They allowed the police commissioner to make a declaration preventing residents from seeking authorisation for rallies in key parts of Sydney for up to three months after a terror attack.

This left protesters vulnerable to arrest for obstructing traffic or pedestrian movements if they marched through the streets.

While NSW Premier Chris Minns has said the laws were necessary to maintain order and peace, a NSW Court of Appeal found they were unconstitutional.

The move has been celebrated by Palestine Action Group, one of the organisations who brought the court challenge, but spokesman Josh Lees said more must be done.

"The cops have to drop the charges," he told the rally on Wednesday.

"The only people facing criminal investigations from the night of the ninth of February should be the police themselves for the assault."

However, the protest was also policed under a major events declaration that gave authorities powers to clear the area at their determination.

Protest groups had mounted a court challenge to this second declaration, but it was dismissed by the Supreme Court.

This could pose an issue for protesters attempting to have their charges dropped, but Lees is holding out hope.

"It's only a matter of time before those powers are also struck down and found to be completely invalid, because the invocation of the major event act was absolutely ludicrous," he said.