D.C. Shells Out $50,000 to Settle Lawsuit Over ‘Star Wars’ Protest Detention

The District of Columbia is coughing up $50,000 to settle a lawsuit from a resident who claims police illegally detained him while he blasted Darth Vader’s theme from “Star Wars” on his cellphone, following an Ohio National Guard patrol. This shocking incident unfolded against the backdrop of President Donald Trump’s controversial federal law enforcement surge in the city.

Sam O’Hara, the plaintiff, took legal action against the district, four Metropolitan Police Department officers, and a member of the Ohio National Guard. His protest was a direct response to the heightened military presence in Washington, D.C., which has sparked outrage among residents.

A court filing revealed the settlement details but withheld specific monetary terms until D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb’s office provided a copy of the agreement. The $50,000 payout covers attorney fees and costs, with O’Hara represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia.

In an email, an ACLU spokesperson described the settlement as “a significant amount” that O’Hara is “pleased with,” yet they refused to disclose the exact figure to maintain his privacy.

O’Hara, who works in hospitality as an artist, agreed to drop his claims against the district and the MPD officers within three business days of receiving the settlement payment. The agreement explicitly states that this settlement does not imply any wrongdoing by the district.

However, O’Hara’s battle isn’t over; he still has pending claims against Sgt. Devon Beck of the Ohio National Guard, who is seeking to have those claims dismissed by a judge.

Expressing mixed feelings about the settlement, O’Hara stated he is satisfied but frustrated that taxpayers are footing the bill for police misconduct. “Those who actually violated my constitutional rights should be the ones paying the price, like taking the money from their pensions. That’s what real accountability looks like,” he asserted. “This settlement is a reminder that our freedoms are worth fighting for, especially when the powerful would rather we suffer in silence.”

O’Hara filed his lawsuit in October, alleging violations of his First Amendment rights to free speech and Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable seizures and excessive force.

The incident occurred on September 11, 2025, when O’Hara played “The Imperial March” while trailing several National Guard troops down a public street. One of the troops called in police, who detained O’Hara for 15 to 20 minutes before releasing him without charges.

Trump’s deployment of guard members in Washington began last August after he declared a crime emergency in the capital. This move has only intensified tensions with residents in this heavily Democratic area. Nearly a year later, hundreds of guard members remain stationed in D.C., with no end in sight.