DC will pay $50,000 to man detained while protesting guard patrol with 'Star Wars' song, record says
The agreement covers attorney fees and costs, while O'Hara's claims against an Ohio National Guard member remain pending.
- The District of Columbia agreed to pay $50,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by Sam O'Hara, who accused police of illegally detaining him for playing Star Wars music while following National Guard troops.
- O'Hara protested President Donald Trump's 'crime emergency' declaration by playing 'The Imperial March' on his phone on September 11, 2025, prompting Sgt. Devon Beck, an Ohio National Guard member, to summon police.
- Police handcuffed O'Hara for 15 to 20 minutes before releasing him without charges, leading him to sue for violations of his First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights.
- The American Civil Liberties Union announced Friday that O'Hara reached a settlement with the District and four officers, though his lawsuit against Beck remains pending dismissal.
- National Guard levels in the District have surged to 4,600 ahead of Fourth of July events, while O'Hara stated he continues his Star Wars-inspired protests to this day, often using a portable JBL speaker.
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Sam O'Hara from the US capital, Washington, has reached a settlement with the city police, who arrested him for accompanying members of the US National Guard during a humorous protest by playing music from the movie Star Wars.
The District of Columbia agreed to pay $50,000 to resolve a lawsuit filed by a resident who accused police officers of illegally detaining him for following an Ohio National Guard patrol while reproducing the Darth Vader theme of “Star Wars” on his cell phone, according to a paper released on Monday.
DC resident who played ‘The Imperial March’ at federal troops receives settlement
It was a warm, early autumn day in D.C. as Sam O’Hara trailed several National Guard members.It had been several weeks since President Donald Trump had declared a “crime emergency” in the nation’s capital and deployed federal troops. On three separate occasions O’Hara had taken to playing “The Imperial March” as a Star Wars-inspired peaceful protest, recorded and uploaded to O’Hara’s social media accounts. Passersby can be heard saying “May the …
The Seattle Times
DC will pay $50,000 to man detained while protesting guard patrol with ‘Star Wars’ song, record says
A settlement document reveals the District of Columbia has agreed to pay $50,000 to resolve a lawsuit filed by a resident who accused police officers of illegally detaining him for following an Ohio National Guard patrol while playing Darth Vader’s theme song from “Star Wars” on his phone.
D.C. to pay $50,000 to man detained while protesting guard patrol with ‘Star Wars’ song, record says
The District of Columbia has agreed to pay $50,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a resident who accused police officers of illegally detaining him for following an Ohio National Guard patrol while playing Darth Vader's theme song from "Star Wars" on his cellphone, according to a document released Monday.
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