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.”

O’Hara’s complaint said that most Guard members he encountered during his protests ignored him and that “a few smiled or laughed.” But he said that on Sept. 11, Sgt. Devon Beck of the Ohio National Guard “was not amused by this satire,” and that Beck contacted D.C. police officers, who handcuffed the plaintiff and blocked him from “continuing his peaceful protest.” He was released without charge.

O’Hara’s suit names Beck, several D.C. officers and the District of Columbia as civil defendants. He claims violations of the First and Fourth Amendments, as well as false arrest and battery. He said officers refused to loosen his tight handcuffs, which caused him pain. The defendants will have an opportunity to respond in court before a judge weighs in on how the case will proceed.

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.

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AI glasses let users take videos, stream music and capture everyday moments. For people who are blind and visually impaired, they can be a lifeline.

A native Washingtonian declared legally blind at birth showed News4 how the glasses are changing her life.

Chrichelle Brown is fiercely independent. She rides Metro, takes the bus and shops for groceries. On her own, she can see people and objects but not details. Using AI glasses, she has access to a lot more.

Originally designed for streaming and capturing video, members of the blind community quickly discovered another use. With a simple voice command, the glasses’ built-in camera, microphone and speakers let users talk with an AI assistant that can identify objects, read text and describe surroundings.

“It changes a lot. I’m even able to get descriptions. As I mentioned, I don’t see detail, so being able to ask, ‘Hey Meta, what’s in front of me?’ —it can give me extreme detail, up to what someone’s design is on their shirt,” Brown explained.

Without the glasses, she could see a News4 reporter’s shadow. With them, she knew she was wearing a white sweater and light-colored pants and has blonde hair and light eyes.

Brown teaches others how to use AI glasses at Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind in Silver Spring. Her three-day monthly seminar is free to the community.

On the day News4 met with her, she invited us along as she and a student, Rose, headed to Starbucks. Brown showed Rose how to ask Meta to read the menu. The glasses instantly described the options out loud. It was a small moment that symbolized something much bigger: independence as she often had to rely on others for help.

The glasses connect to a free app called Be My Eyes, which recently partnered with Meta. It links users to millions of volunteers around the world who can see what they can’t, providing real-time, audible feedback.

“I use them for a lot of things. I use them to sometimes help me pick out certain clothes if I think I want them to match a certain way,” Brown said. “If I’m at the store and they can’t find a representative, I will use Be My Eyes to get a volunteer to help me find the specific items at a grocery store.”

She said she’s careful not to rely on AI alone.

“Hey, Meta: How many steps?” Rose asked Brown. “What if this thing tells me there are no steps but there is steps?”

Brown told her to hold on to the railing.

“I always tell people that, you know, when I’m teaching a class, that these glasses are meant to enhance your independence but not replace the services and the knowledge that you have gained from taking the other classes,” she said.

Meta said its goal is to make the glasses more accessible. As the technology improves, advocates hope they’ll continue breaking barriers for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Sign up for our free deep-dive newsletter, The 4Front, to get standout News4 stories sent right to your inbox. Subscribe here.

WASHINGTON – District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb says National Guard troops may be staying far longer than expected, possibly through the summer of 2026, when the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.

FOX 5’s Maureen Umeh reports the National Guard first arrived in August after President Trump declared a crime emergency in the city.

 Two months later, roughly 2,500 troops remain on duty as part of the “Safe and Beautiful” mission, working alongside local police and federal agencies.

READ MORE: National Guard deployment in DC extended to November, per Army memo

Troops may stay longer

In new court filings submitted Friday, Schwalb argues the deployment has shifted from a temporary assignment to a long-term military presence. He cites a recently released email from the Guard’s commanding general instructing troops to “winterize” and prepare for a “long-term persistent presence.”

Schwalb argues the mission violates federal law prohibiting military forces from performing domestic law enforcement. The White House disagrees, saying the president has full authority to deploy the Guard to protect federal assets and support police operations.

Public reaction mixed

Public reaction remains mixed, but many residents FOX 5 spoke with expressed concern about the extended stay in the city.

READ MORE: National Guard remains in DC following Trump’s federal takeover