DC Man Sues District Over Star Wars Protest Detention

Sam O'Hara, a Washington, D.C. resident, has filed a federal lawsuit against the District of Columbia, the Ohio National Guard, and Metropolitan Police Department officers after being detained for playing "The Imperial March" from Star Wars while following National Guard members during a peaceful protest. The American Civil Liberties Union argues that O'Hara's detention violated his First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful protest, as well as his Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable seizure and false arrest. O'Hara's protest was aimed at criticizing the deployment of over 2,300 National Guard troops in D.C., a move initiated by President Donald Trump following a declared crime emergency. Despite continuing to play the song and record the National Guard, O'Hara was handcuffed and detained for 15 to 20 minutes without charges. The lawsuit emphasizes that such government conduct would not be tolerated under current constitutional protections, highlighting concerns about the militarization of civilian areas and the suppression of peaceful dissent. The case is ongoing and assigned to U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly.