Aaron Bushnell, Remember His Name
On Sunday, February 24th, 25-year-old anarchist and Air Force member Aaron Bushnell, lit himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy, in protest of the ongoing genocide happening in the Gaza Strip.
“I am an active duty member of the United States Air Force, and I will no longer be complicit in 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.” Activist Aaron Bushnell said calmly to his phone while live on Twitch before participating in an extreme act of protest. As he stood outside the Israeli Embassy, flames erupted around him. “FREE PALESTINE, FREEE PALESTINE, FREE PALESTINE” Bushnell screeched while bursting into flames. “GET ON THE GROUND, GET ON THE GROUND” a police or security guard (not yet confirmed) shouted while flames started to engulf Aaron Bushnell's entire body. “We need more fire extinguishers, not guns” another officer or guard shouted while spraying a fire extinguisher at the protester. Yelling in agony, Bushnell still managed to continue his message. “FREE PALESTINE”
Aaron Bushnell passed away from extreme burns a day after the courageous protest.
Many will, and already have, written Mr. Bushnell off as a mentally ill lunatic whose actions should be ignored. While it is unfair to speculate on a deceased person's mental health, it is crucial to recognize the deliberate and coordinated nature of his act. Many have the innate reaction that only someone delusional would think such an act of protest would achieve anything. Drawing parallels to historical events, such as Thích Quảng Đức's self-immolation in 1963, we can see the impact of extreme forms of protest. On June 11, 1963, Buddhist Monk Thích Quảng Đức participated in an act of self-immolation in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, protesting religious oppression against Buddhists by the government. Monk Thích Quảng Đức, along with the help of another activist, bursted into flames, resulting in gut-wrenching photos, akin to Mr. Bushnell. While the immediate impact on the government is disputed, over 60 years later, Thích Quảng Đức's protest continues to be remembered around the world. His selfless act, captured in an iconic photograph, has become a symbol of resistance for human rights activists globally, sparking conversations about religious freedom and human rights that continue to this day.
Thích Quảng Đức, June 11, 1963
this picture won the 1963 World Press Photo of the Year
I wish to emphasize that I am not advocating for self-immolation as the best or even a commendable form of protest. I vehemently ask every reader to refrain from contemplating or replicating Mr. Bushnell's extreme actions. However, the undeniable reality remains. Aaron Bushnell's death is a testament to the profound desperation he felt as a member of the United States Military, in the face of the brutal occupation and ongoing genocide his country is funding and supporting. Whether one deems his act as "courageous" or "idiotic." It is an undeniable fact that Mr. Bushnell resorted to an extreme form of protest to draw attention to the atrocities happening in the Gaza Strip. As human rights activists, leftists, socialists, and compassionate individuals alike, we now bear a collective responsibility. While not endorsing the method, we must recognize the urgent need to spread Aaron Bushnell's message and name. Our commitment to justice demands that we continue to organize, protest, and advocate, extending our efforts to show solidarity with Aaron. By channeling our collective energy into direct and impactful activism, sharing Aaron Bushnell’s name, message, and yes, pictures, we can honor Mr. Bushnell's memory and contribute to the ongoing fight for justice for all.