The District of Columbia has settled a lawsuit by a protester who said he was detained and handcuffed for following National Guard troops around the city while playing Darth Vader’s theme song from “Star Wars.” Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscriptionGet exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading.The terms of the agreement were not immediately disclosed, but the American Civil Liberties Union, which represents demonstrator Sam O’Hara in the case, said in a press release that he was receiving compensation.The group did not immediately respond to a request for more details.The D.C.
mayor’s office referred questions to the local police and the D.C.attorney general’s office.
Representatives for the Metropolitan Police Department and D.C.Attorney General Brian Schwalb did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The incident happened in Sept.2025, when O’Hara, a D.C.
resident, was protesting against President Donald Trump’s decision to send National Guard troops to the city, and did so with music.“In the Star Wars franchise, The Imperial March is the music that plays when Darth Vader or other dark forces enter a scene or succeed in their dastardly plans.
It is also the soundtrack of Sam O’Hara’s protest against the National Guard deployment in D.C.,” his lawsuit said.“Mr.
O’Hara was deeply concerned about the normalization of troops patrolling D.C.neighborhoods.
And so, he began protesting the Guard members’ presence by walking several feet behind them when he saw them in the community.Using his phone and sometimes a small speaker, he played The Imperial March as he walked, keeping the music at a volume that was audible but not blaring,” his suit said.He recorded the encounters and posted the videos on TikTok, which have racked up millions of views.
One of his targets, Ohio National Guard member Sgt.Devon Beck, “was not amused by this satire,” the suit said.“In less than two minutes, Sgt.
Beck tur...