The District of Columbia has agreed to pay Sam O'Hara to settle his lawsuit over a brief detention last fall, after he followed an Ohio National Guard patrol through the city while loudly playing the "Imperial March" from Star Wars on his phone as a form of protest. According to court filings, O'Hara will drop his claims against the city and four Metropolitan Police Department officers within three business days of receiving the settlement payment. The amount is not being made public.
City Deal Closes One Chapter, Leaves Guard Fight Open
The settlement wraps up O'Hara's claims against the District and the Metropolitan Police Department, but it does not end the case entirely. His related claims against an Ohio National Guard sergeant remain active, according to Bloomberg Law. Court papers filed Thursday say O'Hara will file a notice of dismissal only as to the city and the four officers after the money arrives.
How a Movie Theme Led to Handcuffs
O'Hara's federal complaint, filed by the ACLU of D.C., says he began walking behind four Ohio Guard members in the Logan Circle area on Sept. 11, 2025, playing the "Imperial March" and recording the patrol. The filing describes the music and recording as political protest. The complaint says one sergeant told O'Hara he would call police, and when officers arrived they handcuffed O'Hara tightly enough to leave marks and held him for about 15 to 20 minutes before releasing him without charges, according to the ACLU.
Guard Sergeant Pushes to Be Dropped From Case
Lawyers for Ohio National Guard member Sgt. Devon Beck are trying to get O'Hara's claims against him thrown out. In a court filing, they argue that the encounter "was not an accidental encounter or a one-time disagreement on a public sidewalk," according to reporting by News4JAX. The D.C. attorney general's office declined to comment on the settlement, the outlet reports.
Why the ‘Imperial March’ Protest Struck a Nerve
O'Hara's videos and protests landed in the middle of a much larger national fight over the presence of troops in the nation's capital. They followed President Trump's August 11 executive order and subsequent federal moves that put National Guard troops and federal agents on D.C. streets. The Washington Post has documented both the deployment and the public backlash that formed the backdrop for O'Hara's lawsuit.
What the Settlement Actually Changes
With the deal in place, O'Hara's claims against the District will end once the payment clears, but his lawsuit against Sgt. Beck continues and could be resolved on motions or later in the federal case, according to the docket at the Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse. An ACLU spokesperson told the AP that the payment was "a significant amount" that O'Hara was satisfied with, but the group declined to disclose the figure in order to protect his privacy.
