Man challenges arrest for mocking DC troops with Darth Vader's theme song

[cbabe]

https://www.rawstory.com/washington-dc-aclu-protest-lawsuit/

Man challenges arrest for mocking DC troops with Darth Vader's theme song

Sarah K. Burris
October 23, 2025 11:48AM ET

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is representing Sam O'Hara, who was arrested in Washington, D.C., when he began playing the "Imperial March" from "Star Wars" at National Guard soldiers marching through the streets. Now he's fighting back.

A new lawsuit filed on Thursday details the story of O'Hara's encounter on Sept. 11, playing the song while doing nothing more than walking behind the Guard, noted Slate legal reporter Mark Joseph Stern.

"Mr. O’Hara saw Sgt. Beck, along with several other Guard members, walking in uniform in the Logan Circle neighborhood, near the intersection of 14th and R Streets NW. Mr. O’Hara calmly walked behind the Guard members, began playing The Imperial March aloud on his phone, and started recording. In less than two minutes, Sgt. Beck turned around and threatened to call D.C. police officers to 'handle' Mr. O’Hara if he persisted. Mr. O’Hara continued recording and playing the music," the lawsuit alleges.

"Sgt. Beck contacted the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Defendant MPD Officers Brown, Campbell, Reyes-Benigno, and Lopez Martinez came to the scene and, in essence, did what Sgt. Beck had threatened, putting Mr. O’Hara in handcuffs and preventing him from continuing his peaceful protest," the suit continues.

The ACLU appeared to even have a little fun with the suit, writing that “government conduct of this sort might have received legal sanction a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. But in the here and now, the First Amendment bars government officials from restraining individuals from recording law enforcement or peacefully protesting, and the Fourth Amendment (along with the District’s prohibition on false arrest) bars groundless seizures."

… more …

[underpants]

1. Love it.

[bmichaelh]

2. The Omen

Wonder what would happen if someone played Jerry Goldsmith's The Omen.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. Deadline Legal Blog-D.C. man sues after arrest for playing 'Star Wars' music to protest National Guard troops

“The law might have tolerated government conduct of this sort a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” Sam O’Hara’s lawyers with the ACLU wrote in the complaint.

D.C. man sues after arrest for playing 'Star Wars' music to protest National Guard troops www.msnbc.com/deadline-whi...

— Tabby (@tabbys-corner.bsky.social) 2025-10-23T21:24:00.217Z

https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/dc-protest-star-wars-music-national-guard-imperial-march-rcna239412

A Washington, D.C., resident who drew attention to the deployment of the National Guard in the district by playing “The Imperial March” from “Star Wars” is now suing after he was detained in what he argues was a violation of his rights while protesting.

“The law might have tolerated government conduct of this sort a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” Sam O’Hara’s lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union wrote in a civil complaint filed Thursday, playing on the “Star Wars” theme. “But in the here and now, the First Amendment bars government officials from shutting down peaceful protests, and the Fourth Amendment (along with the District’s prohibition on false arrest) bars groundless seizures,” they wrote.

The complaint, filed in federal district court in Washington, D.C., gave O’Hara’s account of his detention last month. It followed one of the times he recorded and protested the deployment by playing the theme associated with “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader, while walking behind Guard members on public streets.

The incident leading to the lawsuit arose when the 35-year-old was coming home from work on Sept. 11, and he began walking behind a group of Guard members while playing the march on his phone and recording them. He said he didn’t speak to them, touch them or interfere with their activities, and he said he played the music loudly but not at a “blaring level.”.....

The suit comes as litigation unfolds over the Trump administration’s attempted deployments in Los Angeles; Portland, Oregon; and Chicago, with the last pending before the Supreme Court in a case that could be decided any moment.