The District of Columbia has reached a settlement with Sam O’Hara, a protester who sued after being detained for playing ‘The Imperial March’ from ‘Star Wars’ while following National Guard troops. O’Hara’s protest was against the deployment of National Guard troops in D.C., ordered by President Donald Trump. The settlement’s terms remain undisclosed, but O’Hara will drop his claims against the district and four Metropolitan Police Department officers.
O’Hara’s lawsuit, filed with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, claimed that his First and Fourth Amendment rights were violated when he was detained and handcuffed by police after Ohio National Guard member Sgt. Devon Beck intervened. O’Hara’s claims against Sgt. Beck are still pending, as Beck’s attorneys argue for dismissal based on qualified immunity.
The protest, which took place on September 11, 2025, involved O’Hara playing the iconic ‘Star Wars’ theme to highlight what he saw as the militarization of domestic law enforcement. While most Guard members reacted with amusement, Sgt. Beck did not, leading to O’Hara’s detention.
The Justice Department has supported Sgt. Beck’s defense, asserting that his actions were protected by qualified immunity. The case remains open regarding Sgt. Beck, while the settlement with the district marks a partial resolution of the lawsuit.
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