Self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell: Difference between revisions
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== Background == |
== Background == |
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Bushnell grew up in [[Orleans, Massachusetts]], in a [[Community of Jesus]] compound.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Simons|first=Raoul|date=February 27, 2024|title=US airman who killed himself outside Israeli Embassy was anarchist from religious sect|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/02/27/us-airman-aaron-bushnell-israeli-embassy-washington-church/ |access-date=February 27, 2024|work=The Telegraph|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> He started his career with the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) in May 2020, having done Basic & Technical Training. He was trained as a Client Systems Technician, having been educated in [[Computer security|cybersecurity]]. He later worked as a USAF [[DevOps]] engineer in [[San Antonio|San Antonio, Texas]], and was pursuing an undergraduate degree in software engineering from [[Southern New Hampshire University]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name="time">{{cite magazine|last=Guzman|first=Chad de|date=February 25, 2024|title=U.S. Air Force Member Sets Self on Fire Outside Israel's Embassy in D.C. to Protest War in Gaza|url=https://time.com/6821425/israel-embassy-air-force-protest-fire-self-immolation-aaron-bushnell-latest-updates/ |access-date=February 26, 2024|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226053631/https://time.com/6821425/israel-embassy-air-force-protest-fire-self-immolation-aaron-bushnell-latest-updates/ |url-status=live |
Bushnell grew up in [[Orleans, Massachusetts]], in a [[Community of Jesus]] compound.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Simons|first=Raoul|date=February 27, 2024|title=US airman who killed himself outside Israeli Embassy was anarchist from religious sect|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/02/27/us-airman-aaron-bushnell-israeli-embassy-washington-church/ |access-date=February 27, 2024|work=The Telegraph|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref> He started his career with the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) in May 2020, having done Basic & Technical Training. He was trained as a Client Systems Technician, having been educated in [[Computer security|cybersecurity]]. He later worked as a USAF [[DevOps]] engineer in [[San Antonio|San Antonio, Texas]], and was pursuing an undergraduate degree in software engineering from [[Southern New Hampshire University]].<ref name=":2" /><ref name="time">{{cite magazine|last=Guzman|first=Chad de|date=February 25, 2024|title=U.S. Air Force Member Sets Self on Fire Outside Israel's Embassy in D.C. to Protest War in Gaza|url=https://time.com/6821425/israel-embassy-air-force-protest-fire-self-immolation-aaron-bushnell-latest-updates/ |access-date=February 26, 2024|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-date=February 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226053631/https://time.com/6821425/israel-embassy-air-force-protest-fire-self-immolation-aaron-bushnell-latest-updates/ |url-status=live}}</ref> |
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Bushnell is not the first person in the US to use self-immolation to protest against Israel over the Palestinian humanitarian crisis.<ref name="time 2024 0226 history">{{Citation|url=https://time.com/6835364/self-immolation-history-israel-hamas-war/|first1=Solcyré|last1=Burga|first2=Simmone|last2=Shah|title=The History of Self-Immolation as Political Protest|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=February 26, 2024|access-date=February 27, 2024|language=en}}</ref> On December 1, 2023, an individual, whose identity was not revealed by Atlanta authorities, protested via self-immolation outside the Israeli consulate in [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]], which resulted in the protester having critical injuries.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://apnews.com/article/israeli-consulate-self-immolation-atlanta-protester-8f17dd72592f86797a45cda9b60605a5|title=Protester critically injured after setting self on fire outside Israeli consulate in Atlanta|work=[[Associated Press]]|date=December 2, 2023|access-date=February 27, 2024|language=en}}</ref> |
Bushnell is not the first person in the US to use self-immolation to protest against Israel over the Palestinian humanitarian crisis.<ref name="time 2024 0226 history">{{Citation|url=https://time.com/6835364/self-immolation-history-israel-hamas-war/|first1=Solcyré|last1=Burga|first2=Simmone|last2=Shah|title=The History of Self-Immolation as Political Protest|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=February 26, 2024|access-date=February 27, 2024|language=en}}</ref> On December 1, 2023, an individual, whose identity was not revealed by Atlanta authorities, protested via self-immolation outside the Israeli consulate in [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]], which resulted in the protester having critical injuries.<ref>{{Citation|url=https://apnews.com/article/israeli-consulate-self-immolation-atlanta-protester-8f17dd72592f86797a45cda9b60605a5|title=Protester critically injured after setting self on fire outside Israeli consulate in Atlanta|work=[[Associated Press]]|date=December 2, 2023|access-date=February 27, 2024|language=en}}</ref> |
Revision as of 02:47, 28 February 2024
![]() | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (February 2024) |
Part of the Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States | |
![]() Bushnell on fire in front of the Israeli embassy | |
Date | February 25, 2024 |
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Location | Washington, D.C., United States |
Type | Self-immolation |
Motive | Opposition to United States support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas war |
Deaths | Aaron Bushnell |
On February 25, 2024, Aaron Bushnell, a 25-year-old serviceman of the United States Air Force, committed an act of self-immolation outside the front gate of the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. Immediately prior to the act, Bushnell said on a live stream that he was protesting "what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers" and declared that he "will no longer be complicit in genocide", after which he doused himself with a flammable liquid and set himself on fire.[1] As he burned, Bushnell repeatedly shouted "Free Palestine!" while a police officer pointed a gun at him and local emergency services arrived on scene.[2][3][4]
The act was live-streamed on Twitch.[5] The Metropolitan Police Department responded to assist the United States Secret Service after Bushnell set himself on fire, and he was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.[6] D.C. police confirmed his death the following day.[7] Bushnell's act was the second self-immolation protesting the United States' support for Israel in the Israel–Hamas war at an Israeli diplomatic station in the United States; another protestor set themself on fire at the country's Atlanta consulate in December 2023.[2] In reaction to the incident, the Pentagon responded in a press conference that "our support for Israel's inherent right to defend itself is ironclad".[8]
Background
Bushnell grew up in Orleans, Massachusetts, in a Community of Jesus compound.[9] He started his career with the United States Air Force (USAF) in May 2020, having done Basic & Technical Training. He was trained as a Client Systems Technician, having been educated in cybersecurity. He later worked as a USAF DevOps engineer in San Antonio, Texas, and was pursuing an undergraduate degree in software engineering from Southern New Hampshire University.[6][3]
Bushnell is not the first person in the US to use self-immolation to protest against Israel over the Palestinian humanitarian crisis.[10] On December 1, 2023, an individual, whose identity was not revealed by Atlanta authorities, protested via self-immolation outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, Georgia, which resulted in the protester having critical injuries.[11]
Event
Many of us like to ask ourselves, 'What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?' The answer is, you're doing it. Right now.
Bushnell created a will before self-immolating, which left instructions including that his cat be left with a neighbor after his death.[14] He sent a message to media outlets before his planned self-immolation, where he wrote "Today, I am planning to engage in an extreme act of protest against the genocide of the Palestinian people".[3]
On February 25, 2024, at approximately 12:58 p.m. local time,[3] Bushnell, dressed in military fatigues,[13] approached the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., intending to immolate himself as an act of protest against the Israel–Hamas war. He had also created a Twitch account[3] under the name "LillyAnarKitty" with a Palestinian flag as his profile banner with the caption "Free Palestine".[15][16][17] While live-streaming, he walked towards the embassy and said,
I am an active duty member of the United States Air Force. And I will no longer be complicit to genocide. I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest. But compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers—it's not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal.[18][19][3]
Outside the embassy, Bushnell placed his camera down, positioned himself in front of the gates,[20] and poured a flammable liquid over himself. A security officer approached Bushnell, asking if he needed help, but was ignored.[3]
After igniting himself, Bushnell repeatedly shouted "Free Palestine!" as he was burning, and eventually collapsed to the ground.[3][4][21][22] The security officer radioed in for assistance. A police officer approached the scene, aimed a gun at Bushnell off-camera and ordered him to "get on the ground" multiple times, while another officer yelled "I don't need guns, I need fire extinguishers".[12] Multiple officers responded to the scene and used fire extinguishers on Bushnell. He was transported to a local hospital by the DC Fire & EMS, where he later died from his burn injuries at the age of 25.[23]
Investigation
The Secret Service, Metropolitan Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced they would investigate the incident.[3] The Metropolitan Police refused to confirm the authenticity of the livestream, and the US Air Force cited family notification policies while refusing to speak initially on the situation. A bomb disposal unit was dispatched to investigate concerns of a suspicious vehicle that could have been connected to Bushnell. The area was later declared safe after nothing hazardous was discovered.[24]
A public incident report given to reporters by the Metropolitan Police Department states that Bushnell was "exhibiting signs of mental distress" — namely that he had "doused himself with an unidentified liquid and set himself on fire" — before the Secret Service could reach him.[25] A spokesperson for the Israeli embassy reported that no staff members were injured in the incident.[26][27]
Reactions
Within the United States
When responding to the question by the Associated Press on whether "Bushnell's self-immolation might indicate that there is a deeper issue about the US military personnel being concerned about how weapons and support for Israel has been used in Gaza", Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick S. Ryder made the following statement,[undue weight? – discuss]
- From the Department of Defense standpoint, since Hamas's brutal attacks on October 7, we've been focused on the four key areas that the Secretary set out from the onset. That's protecting U.S. forces and citizens in the region, supporting Israel's inherent right to defend itself from terrorist attacks, working closely with Israel to support and secure the release of hostages from Hamas, and ensuring that the crisis - the conflict between Hamas and Israel doesn't escalate into a broader regional conflict.
- And so those objectives are what continue to inform our approach to the situation in the Middle East, and as we've talked about before, while our support for Israel's inherent right to defend itself is ironclad, we've also continued to actively communicate our expectations that Israel take civilian safety and humanitarian assistance into account into their operations.
- You see that incorporated into every conversation the Secretary has with his counterpart in Israel, as well as other U.S. officials. And we expect them to continue to adhere to the law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law. We'll continue to do that.[28][8][29][undue weight? – discuss]
Following his self-immolation, Bushnell's actions were praised by activists such as Aya Hijazi and Dyab Abou Jahjah, as well as United States Green Party candidate Jill Stein and independent candidate Cornel West, all of whom paid tribute following his death. Senator Bernie Sanders stated that, "It's obviously a terrible tragedy, but I think it speaks to the depths of despair that so many people are feeling now about the horrific humanitarian disaster taking place in Gaza, and I share those deep concerns."[30] While some on social media viewed his act as heroic and sacrificial, others considered Bushnell to have resorted to extreme measures by ending his own life.[31]
On February 26, a vigil in his memory was held in front of the Israeli embassy. It was attended by 100 people.[32] Additional vigils were held in other American cities, some organized by the anti-war group Code Pink.[33]
International
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Hamas praised the act and expressed "heartfelt condolences" to the friends and family of Bushnell, announcing in a statement to Telegram that "he immortalised his name as a defender of human values and the oppression of the suffering Palestinian people because of the American administration and its unjust policies" while describing him as a "heroic pilot".[34][13] The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine released a statement honoring Bushnell, describing the act as "the highest sacrifice".[35]
See also
References
- ^ Assi, Seraj (February 26, 2024). "Aaron Bushnell Refused to Be Silent on the Horrors in Gaza". Jacobin. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Kavi, Aishvarya (February 25, 2024). "A man set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, the police said". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Guzman, Chad de (February 25, 2024). "U.S. Air Force Member Sets Self on Fire Outside Israel's Embassy in D.C. to Protest War in Gaza". Time. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ a b Davies, Emily; Rempfer, Kyle; and Lamothe, Dan (February 25, 2024). "Active-duty airman sets himself on fire outside D.C.'s Israeli Embassy". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
shows him referring to his service in the U.S. armed forces and shouting "Free Palestine" as he burned.
- ^ Pitofsky, Marina; Ortiz, Jorge L.; and Nguyen, Thao (February 25, 2024). "Air Force member in critical condition after setting himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in Washington". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ a b "Who is Aaron Bushnell, US Air Force member sets himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in Washington". The Economic Times. February 25, 2024. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ Davies, Emily; Hermann, Peter; Lamothe, Dan; Allam, Hannah (February 26, 2024). "Airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in D.C." The Washington Post. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ a b "Pentagon Responds Following US Airman's Death After He Set Himself On Fire Outside Israeli Embassy", Forbes, February 27, 2024, retrieved February 27, 2024 – via YouTube
- ^ Simons, Raoul (February 27, 2024). "US airman who killed himself outside Israeli Embassy was anarchist from religious sect". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ Burga, Solcyré; Shah, Simmone (February 26, 2024), "The History of Self-Immolation as Political Protest", Time, retrieved February 27, 2024
- ^ "Protester critically injured after setting self on fire outside Israeli consulate in Atlanta", Associated Press, December 2, 2023, retrieved February 27, 2024
- ^ a b Rahman, Khaleda (February 26, 2024). "Who is Aaron Bushnell? US airman sets himself on fire by Israeli embassy". Newsweek. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c Kube, Courtney; Lenthang, Marlene; Siemaszko, Corky (February 26, 2024). "U.S. Air Force member who set himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in D.C. has died". NBC News. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ Kim, Juliana (February 26, 2024). "U.S. airman dies after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy". NPR. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ Nieto, Phillip (February 25, 2024). "Air Force Service Member Sets Himself On Fire Outside Israeli Embassy". Mediaite. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ ""This Is What Our Ruling Class Has Decided Will Be Normal" On Aaron Bushnell's Action in Solidarity with Gaza". CrimethInc. February 26, 2024. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ Nazarian, Adelle (February 26, 2024). "US Airman Sets Himself on Fire in Protest of Israel-Palestinian Conflict". Western Journal. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ Siddiqui, Usaid; Osgood, Brian. "Israel failed to comply with ICJ genocide orders in Gaza: Rights groups". Al Jazeera. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ Seligman, Lara; Berg, Matt (February 26, 2024). "Air Force member dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy". Politico. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ Smith, Mataeo (February 27, 2024). "US Airman who set himself on fire outside Israeli embassy pictured as he dies". The Mirror US. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ "US airman sets himself on fire outside Israel embassy to protest 'genocide'". Al Jazeera. February 26, 2024. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
He then lit himself on fire while yelling "Free Palestine!" until he fell to the ground.
- ^ Diver, Tony and Hamblin, Andrea (February 26, 2024). "US military officer sets himself on fire outside Israeli embassy". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
standing outside the embassy wearing a military uniform and shouting "Free Palestine" as he burned.
- ^ Davies, Emily; Hermann, Peter (February 26, 2024). "Airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli Embassy in D.C." The Washington Post. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ Geoghegan, Tom; Epstein, Kayla; Wendling, Mike (February 26, 2024). "Aaron Bushnell: US airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in Washington". BBC News. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Geoghegan, Tom; Epstein, Kayla; Wendling, Mike (February 26, 2024). "Aaron Bushnell: US airman dies after setting himself on fire outside Israeli embassy in Washington". BBC News. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ Samuels, Ben (February 26, 2024). "U.S. Soldier Fatally Set Himself on Fire Outside Israeli Embassy in Protest of American Support of Gaza War". Haaretz. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ "Pentagon reaffirms support for Israel after US airman's self-immolation". Al Jazeera. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ "Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds a Press Briefing". United States Department of Defense. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ Zurick, Maura; Rouhandeh, Alex J. (February 26, 2024). "Bernie Sanders breaks silence on Aaron Bushnell self-immolation". Newsweek. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ Stanton, Andrew (February 26, 2024). "Aaron Bushnell called a "hero" for pro-Palestinian self-immolation". Newsweek. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ "Vigil for Aaron Bushnell held outside Israeli embassy in DC". Middle East Eye. February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Brooke (February 27, 2024). "Vigils held across US for airman Aaron Bushnell who self-immolated against genocide in Gaza". The New Arab.
- ^ "Hamas blames US for death of 'heroic' airman Aaron Bushnell". New Arab. February 27, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
- ^ Zhang, Sharon (February 26, 2024). "US Airman Aaron Bushnell Self-Immolates in Front of Israeli Embassy, Yelling "Free Palestine"". Truthout. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
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- 21st-century history of the United States Air Force
- February 2024 events in the United States
- Deaths by person in Washington, D.C.
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- Suicides by self-immolation in the United States
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