The District of Columbia has agreed to pay an undisclosed settlement to a resident who was detained by police after playing the iconic "Imperial March" from Star Wars while following National Guard troops through the streets of Washington, D.C.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia (ACLU-D.C.), the settlement resolves claims against the District stemming from the September 2025 incident involving Sam O'Hara, who alleged his First Amendment rights were violated.
The agreement applies only to the actions of Metropolitan Police Department officers. The lawsuit remains ongoing against Ohio National Guard Sgt. Devon Beck, who is accused of calling D.C. police to stop O'Hara's protest.
O'Hara said the experience ultimately strengthened his resolve.
"The government's efforts to silence me ultimately backfired and brought more attention to the unjust deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C.," O'Hara said in a statement released by the ACLU-D.C. "This settlement serves as a reminder that constitutional freedoms are worth defending, especially when those in power would prefer we stay quiet."
The incident traces back to August 2025, when President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops to patrol Washington, D.C. In response, O'Hara began following soldiers while playing the "Imperial March," the theme music associated with Darth Vader and Imperial stormtroopers in the Star Wars films, as a form of political protest.
According to the lawsuit, O'Hara encountered Sgt. Beck near 14th and O Streets NW on Sept. 11, 2025. After Beck allegedly asked D.C. police officers to "handle" him, O'Hara was handcuffed and detained for approximately 15 to 20 minutes before being released.
Scott Michelman, legal director of the ACLU-D.C., said the case underscores the importance of protecting free speech.
"Our right to free speech grants us the freedom to criticize the government. Government officials don't have to like it, but they can't punish someone for their speech," Michelman said. "This episode is another demonstration of the folly of Donald Trump's deployment of National Guard troops to patrol D.C. We don't need them here, intimidating residents and violating their constitutional rights."
Under the settlement, all District of Columbia defendants have been dismissed from the lawsuit in exchange for compensation paid to O'Hara. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, and the claim against Sgt. Beck remains pending.
