Sam O’Hara reached a partial settlement with Washington, DC, authorities over his detention after he played “Imperial March” from “Star Wars” behind Ohio National Guard troops in September 2025. Claims against an Ohio National Guard sergeant remain ongoing.
When Sam O’Hara walked in Washington. DC. with his phone playing “Imperial March” from “Star Wars” behind Ohio National Guard troops patrolling the city. he believed he was making a point through a peaceful. satirical protest. That afternoon turned into a confrontation he says escalated into what should have been a constitutional-rights dispute.
O’Hara was detained in Washington. DC. in September 2025 after recording himself playing the John Williams-composed song—famously associated with Darth Vader and the evil Galactic Empire—behind the troops. Footage of the incident was originally shared on TikTok by user @everybodyacriticshow. showing O’Hara walking his dog in a park while his phone played the tune behind members of the Guard.
The lawsuit that followed brought the case into federal court, where the tension wasn’t just about what was played, but what authorities did next—an arc that culminated this week in a partial settlement.
A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union’s Washington. DC. chapter accused authorities of violating O’Hara’s First and Fourth Amendment rights. among other claims. In a federal complaint filed in October, the ACLU said that on Sept. 11, 2025, an Ohio National Guard sergeant “turned around and threatened to call D.C. police officers to ‘handle’ Mr. O’Hara if he persisted.”.
O’Hara continued his protest. DC Metro police officers were called to the scene. and he was put in handcuffs on the basis of supposed harassment of the troops. according to the lawsuit. The complaint says O’Hara rejected the accusation at the time and maintained that he was neither harassing the troops nor interfering with their duties.
The ACLU of DC framed the legal conflict as a direct clash between protest rights and the government’s ability to shut down activity through force. The complaint said: “The law might have tolerated government conduct of this sort a long time ago in a galaxy far. far away.” It added that “in the here and now. the First Amendment bars government officials from shutting down peaceful protests. and the Fourth Amendment – along with the District’s prohibition on false arrest – bars groundless seizures.”.
On June 25, the case moved forward with a key procedural development: a court filing said O’Hara settled with Washington, DC, authorities. Claims against the Ohio National Guard sergeant were still ongoing. The filing did not disclose the settlement amount.
O’Hara said the outcome validated the broader fight he thought he was already in. In an ACLU news release. he said: “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.” He added. “This settlement serves as a reminder that constitutional freedoms are worth defending. especially when those in power would prefer we stay quiet.”.
President Donald Trump deployed the military to address crime and homelessness in Washington. DC. in August. and that effort was met with resistance from many residents. O’Hara’s protest fit inside that larger public dispute—his choice of the “Imperial March” theme underscoring the message he intended to send while he recorded the interactions to post on TikTok.
As of June 26, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Washington, DC, attorney general’s office, and the Ohio National Guard did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Sam O'Hara Imperial March Star Wars National Guard Washington DC ACLU First Amendment Fourth Amendment settlement protest federal lawsuit
So he got detained for playing music? That’s wild, just let people exist.
Partial settlement means the Guard was still right in the end right? Like they always say ‘ongoing’ so it’s not really over.
I don’t get it. The ‘Imperial March’ isn’t even like a weapon. If they say harassment, was he walking too close or just behind them? Sounds like the police wanted an excuse because it was in DC.
Wait, the ACLU got involved and now it’s only partial? That means they’re basically admitting his rights weren’t violated but they’ll pay some money anyway? Also why was the Ohio National Guard even patrolling like that, seems like a setup. I heard about this on TikTok and everyone was saying it was just for attention, but then again the part about handcuffs sounds way too much for a song.