A federal Greens candidate maimed when police violently broke up a protest says an assault charge against a constable is vindication for every person across Australia smeared for rallying for Palestine.
Hannah Thomas suffered a serious eye injury that required surgery when she was arrested outside a Sydney firm on June 27 during a protest over weapons being supplied to Israel.
The 35-year-old was initially charged with resisting police - a case since dropped by prosecutors - and her lawyers have flagged civil proceedings in the Supreme Court for "malicious prosecution" and assault and battery by police.
Police charged the arresting officer on Tuesday with assault occasioning actual bodily harm as pressure mounted on a top cop who appeared to dismiss police conduct against Ms Thomas.
Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden initially said he did not see misconduct in officers' body-worn camera footage of the incident.
"It is incomprehensible that an assistant commissioner could have seen what I saw and defended the behaviour of the uniformed thugs at Belmore that morning," Ms Thomas said in a statement to AAP.
"It's hard to reach any conclusion other than the assistant commissioner was attempting to cover up the blatant misconduct of his officers."
Senior police initially defended the officer's actions and resisted calls to launch a critical incident investigation, which triggers oversight measures including the involvement of detectives from a different police command.
"I am comfortable based on the information provided to me that I did not declare the matter a critical incident," Mr McFadden said three days after the arrest.
Ms Thomas took aim at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and NSW Premier Chris Minns for their comments and policies regarding pro-Palestine protests.
"This officer may have delivered the blow but he was just a foot soldier in the war waged by politicians, particularly Labor politicians, on our right to protest and protesters calling for an end to Israel's genocide in Gaza," she said.
When asked about the injury Ms Thomas sustained in the melee in June, Mr Burke warned on Sky News that "for anyone wanting to have a protest - no one's above the law".
Greens MP Sue Higginson wrote to Police Minister Yasmin Catley, along with the NSW police commissioner and Law Enforcement Conduct Commission calling for Mr McFadden to be dismissed from his position while an investigation took place.
NSW Police declined to comment when asked about Ms Higginson's allegations.
The 33-year-old senior constable who arrested Ms Thomas is scheduled to face Bankstown Local Court on November 18.
Five people were arrested outside SEC Plating in Belmore, which has denied links to the Israel Defence Force.
Criminal cases against four protesters - including an offensive language charge against a 41-year-old - have been dropped.
A magistrate on Friday ordered police to pay costs amounting to $39,435 to the four, including $21,000 to Ms Thomas.
The arrests are subject to an internal NSW Police review, with external oversight by the police watchdog.
Ms Thomas, who stands about 155cm and weighs about 45kg, was charged with hindering or resisting police and two counts of refusing to comply with a move-on direction before the allegations were formally withdrawn earlier in September.
Her lawyer, Peter O'Brien, said the 35-year-old's injuries were extremely serious and her long-term prognosis was still unknown.
"The senseless violence and ruthless conduct of police towards this small group of peaceful protesters, including Ms Thomas, is a sharp indictment on the way in which government and police are manoeuvring to criminalise and suppress protest and dissent in this state," he said.
Filing of a civil lawsuit against police was imminent, Mr O'Brien said.
Ms Thomas ran second to the prime minister in his inner-western Sydney seat of Grayndler at the federal election in May.
