Man Awarded $50,000 After Being Detained for Playing Star Wars Theme

A District of Columbia resident will receive $50,000 in compensation after being detained for playing Star Wars' "Imperial March" as the National Guard deployed in Washington D.C. in August 2025. Sam O’Hara sued the National Guard, alleging violations of his First and Fourth Amendment rights.

O’Hara, supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), claimed his right to protest was violated when Sergeant Devon Beck ordered his arrest on September 11, 2025. O’Hara was following the troops while playing the iconic theme associated with Darth Vader and stormtroopers. Police detained him for 15 to 20 minutes and handcuffed him so tightly that he experienced pain and bruising the following day.

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In place of respecting my right to protest, the police officers handcuffed me so tightly that the next day I still had marks and pain in my wrists.

The ACLU argued that the incident constituted an unlawful seizure and a violation of O’Hara's First Amendment right to free speech and protest. The organization stated that government officials should not impede individuals from recording or protesting peacefully. The lawsuit also cited the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable seizures.

While the ACLU announced a settlement had been reached, details remain limited. However, Telemundo reported the settlement amount to be $50,000, intended to compensate O’Hara for the damages incurred and to avoid further legal proceedings. O’Hara stated that the government's attempt to silence him had the opposite effect, drawing more attention to the National Guard's deployment.

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The government's attempts to silence me backfired and brought even more attention to the unfair deployment of the National Guard in Washington.