Washington has settled a case with an activist who played the Imperial March from Star Wars in front of National Guard soldiers.
Washington has reached a settlement with a protester who was arrested for playing the game Star Wars sounds near National Guard soldiers during a crackdown on illegal immigration.
The case stems from an incident last September, when Sam O’Hara, a 35-year-old Washington resident, protested the deployment of troops by remotely recording Ohio National Guard soldiers playing Darth Vader’s Imperial March from his phone.
O’Hara said he chose the song as a humorous way to protest what he sees as Washington’s military, comparing the guards to Stormtroopers and telling reporters that he feels like him. “Living in a Star Wars episode or movie.”
O’Hara, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), sued Washington, four Metropolitan Police Department officers, and an Ohio National Guard sergeant who called police to the scene.
The activist argued that he was not interfering with the military when he was handcuffed by officers for 15 to 20 minutes after Ohio National Guard Sergeant Devon Beck called police. “hold on” he. He was released without charge and continued his protest.
The complaint alleged violations of his First Amendment right to free speech and Fourth Amendment protection against shock and excessive force, and sought unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
On Thursday, the ACLU filed a notice in federal court saying Washington officials have agreed to pay the plaintiff an undisclosed amount, describing as “a great deal.” O’Hara agreed to drop her claims against Washington and the police, but not against Beck.
“Our right to free speech gives us the freedom to criticize the government. Government officials don’t have to like it, but they can’t punish someone for their speech,” Scott Michelman, legal director of the ACLU’s Washington chapter, said.
The Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement that “recognizes the importance of maintaining the First Amendment rights of individuals to peacefully express their opinions,” adding that “The incident was referred to the MPD Internal Affairs Bureau.”
US President Donald Trump deployed more than 2,300 National Guard troops from eight states and the District of Columbia, along with hundreds of federal agents, as part of his campaign to deport as many illegal immigrants as possible. Civil rights organizations and government officials denounced the move as an abuse of power.
The deployment of federal troops led to conflict with protesters in several states. In January, federal agents killed two US citizens during separate clashes in Minnesota, prompting further criticism of Trump’s immigration policies. Following the upheaval, Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, while acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons resigned.
