‘Star Wars’ ‘Imperial March’ plays behind National Guard troops in Washington, D.C.
A man was seen chasing National Guard troops in Washington while playing the Star Wars Imperial March song. The video, originally uploaded by TikTok user @everybodyacriticshow, shows a man walking his dog in a park while playing music on his cell phone behind a security guard. Credit: Everyone a Critic/@everybodyacriticshow via Storyful
- Sam O’Hara was arrested in Washington, D.C., in September 2025 for playing the “Imperial March” from “Star Wars” behind Ohio National Guard troops patrolling the city.
- The American Civil Liberties Union’s Washington, D.C., chapter sued authorities on O’Hara’s behalf. They accused it of violating their First and Fourth Amendment rights, among other claims.
- In a June 25 court filing, O’Hara said he had settled with Washington, D.C., authorities, but that the claims against Ohio National Guard Sgt.
A partial settlement has been reached in a lawsuit involving a man who was arrested in Washington, D.C., in 2025 for playing the “Imperial March” from “Star Wars” behind Ohio National Guard troops patrolling the city.
President Donald Trump sent the military in August to combat crime and homelessness in the nation’s capital, an effort that was met with resistance from many Washington residents.
Sam O’Hara was among them. He began playing a John Williams-composed song symbolizing Darth Vader and the evil Galactic Empire behind troops, recording the exchange and posting it on TikTok.
But when O’Hara did so on Sept. 11, 2025, an Ohio National Guard sergeant “turned around and threatened to call in D.C. police officers and ‘process’ Mr. O’Hara if Mr. O’Hara persisted,” according to a federal complaint filed in October by the American Civil Liberties Union’s Washington, D.C., chapter.
O’Hara continued to protest. DC Metro police officers were called to the scene. They handcuffed him for harassing soldiers, according to the complaint. He has denied the accusations made at the time of the incident, repeating in his complaint that he did not harass or obstruct military personnel.
The ACLU of D.C. accused authorities of violating O’Hara’s First and Fourth Amendment rights, among other things.
“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, this type of government action may have been legal,” the complaint says. “Right now, however, the First Amendment prohibits government officials from shutting down peaceful protests, and the Fourth Amendment, along with the District’s prohibition on false arrests, prohibits baseless seizures.”
In a lawsuit filed June 25 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, O’Hara said he had settled with Washington, D.C., authorities, but that his claims against Ohio National Guard Sgt. The settlement amount was not disclosed in court filings.
“The administration’s efforts to silence me ultimately backfired, drawing even more attention to the unwarranted deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C.,” O’Hara said in an ACLU news release. “This settlement serves as a reminder that our constitutional freedoms are worth protecting, especially when those in power want us to remain silent.”
The Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, D.C., Attorney General’s Office and the Ohio National Guard did not immediately respond to requests for comment June 26.
Breanna Frank is USA TODAY’s First Amendment reporter. please contact her bjfrank@usatoday.com.
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