One University of Maryland student was arrested after participating in a Washington protest
Senior philosophy, politics, and economics major Saba Tshibaka, right, holding a whiteboard of supportive messages pictured with the founder of the Live Movement, Aniyah Vines after Tshibaka’s release. (Saba Tshibaka)
For one University of Maryland student, Saba Tshibaka, her goal is to always find some way to get into “good trouble,” a stance created by late Congressman John Lewis. Her recent detainment might be the most poignant example of good trouble by Tshibaka to date. On Oct. 15, the senior philosophy, politics, and economics major was arrested during a sit-in protest against the confirmation of Amy Coney-Barrett, who was confirmed to the Supreme Court on Monday. The protest was organized by the Center for Popular Democracy, Spaces in Action, and Housing Works.
Tshibaka said she was the only one out of hundreds of people present at the protest to be handcuffed and taken to a holding facility, known as central booking. According to her, the arresting officer told her that she was handcuffed for resisting arrest.
“I’m the only person being arrested and I didn't do anything different than what anyone else did,” Tshibaka said. “Other people actually resisted arrest way more than I did, other people were being dragged because they wouldn’t walk. I was walking.”
She was held for about 27 hours, seven of which were spent alone according to her. She was held on the second floor of the building by herself, halfway down a hallway of about 50 to 60 cell blocks. It was a six-foot cell. In it were two bunks with metal sheets, a toilet attached to the sink, and roaches, according to Tshibaka. She was offered food but didn’t accept it. She told herself that if she was ever arrested during a protest, she would go on a hunger strike in support of the homeless population in D.C.
“If we really thought that Black lives matter, then we would all care about homeless people and homeless lives, Tshibaka said. “But no one does and it shows because I’m at all the protests with anything to do with homelessness and I never see anyone else there.”
At one point during the night, Tshibaka said she called for a corrections officer but wasn’t answered. She was denied a phone call but was notified by one of the employees that they had been receiving a large number of phone calls about her. Soon after, Tshibaka was released on Oct. 16 at 4:45 p.m.
“I’m just thankful that I’m still here, alive,” Tshibaka said. “Because people kill protestors willingly.”
Her arrest hasn’t stopped her from continuing to protest. The day after Tshibaka was released, she was walking with protestors at the Women’s March in Washington D.C. The day after that, she participated in another rally. Most recently, she was stationed at the occupation of tents outside of the Department of Education building dubbed “Tent City” by the organizers. They are advocating for a more equitable education system for Black students.
“I’ve really come to realize that they’re going to have to kill me to get me to stop,” Tshibaka said.
Tshibaka has created a significant portfolio of advocacy both inside and outside of the UMD community. She co-founded Black Terps Matter, a platform for combatting social issues in the UMD community. She has led multiple organizations on campus since her freshman year including the Black Student Union’s freshman council during her freshman year and the Black Honors Caucus.
Her experiences have also resulted in many connections with students like her from schools across Maryland. She has close ties with Aniyah Vines, the founder of the Live Movement as well as Timothy McDonald, a chemical engineering major and the 44th Mr. Howard University. Both of whom were present with her at the Tent City occupation.
Saba Tshibaka, bottom left, pictured with Aniyah Vines, bottom middle, and a group of fellow protestors at the Tent City occupation on Oct. 24. (Allison Bailey/Allison Bailey Photography)
For Tshibaka, her first experience getting involved in advocacy came in high school. She was featured in two stories for the Capital Gazette. The first in 2015 was a story about the aftermath of the death of Freddie Gray.
“They’re not paying attention to it, they don’t think that it’s important. It’s one of the most important things right now,” Tshibaka told the Capital Gazette in 2015. “Next I think it’s going to be Washington D.C.”
More than five years later, Tshibaka is protesting in Washington D.C. in an event similar to the protests in 2015 that she didn’t think she’d want to attend.
“I think it’s truly manifestation,” Tshibaka said.
The problem of a lack of attention remains the same to Tshibaka. That’s why as of late, she’s focused on boosting that awareness and pushing the platform of Black Terps Matter.
“More people do need to step up because people act like I’m a martyr like I’m just out here looking to give my life for the cause,” Tshibaka said. ”I have a long life to live and I would love for someone to come up and share the stage but people are scared right now and that’s the issue.”