Sam O’Hara, a 35-year-old Washington D.C. resident, has filed a federal lawsuit against the District of Columbia, claiming police violated his constitutional rights when they detained him for playing the iconic Darth Vader theme from Star Wars during a peaceful protest.
Incident With National Guard
According to O’Hara’s lawsuit, on September 11, he followed Ohio National Guard members on a public street while playing “The Imperial March” on his phone. One Guard member reportedly called police, leading to O’Hara being handcuffed for 15 to 20 minutes before being released without charges.
He claims he did not interfere with the troops.
The suit, filed by attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), accuses four police officers and the Guard member of violating O’Hara’s First Amendment rights to free speech and Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable seizures and excessive force. He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, according to ABC News.
Washington Troop Deployment Sparks Protests
O’Hara’s lawsuit comes amid heightened tensions following President Donald Trump’s August crime emergency declaration, which sent over 2,300 National Guard troops from multiple states to patrol D.C. neighborhoods. Federal agents were also deployed, drawing criticism from residents and local officials, including D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who has filed a separate lawsuit against Trump over the troop presence.
O’Hara expressed concern about the “normalization of troops patrolling D.C. neighborhoods” and views it as a threat to the city’s autonomy.
He had previously staged other Star Wars-themed protests, which, according to the lawsuit, were largely ignored by the troops.
Alleged Police Misconduct
The lawsuit states that police accused O’Hara of harassment without investigating the situation. O’Hara also alleges the handcuffs were applied too tightly, causing physical discomfort during his detention.
Key Points About the Sam O’Hara Lawsuit
- Date of incident: September 11
- Location: Public street in Washington D.C.
- Trigger: Playing Darth Vader theme while following National Guard
- Alleged rights violated: First and Fourth Amendments
- Legal representation: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
- Damages sought: Compensatory and punitive
