this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2025
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On February 25, 2024, Aaron Bushnell, a 25-year-old serviceman of the United States Air Force, died after setting himself on fire outside the front gate of the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. Immediately before the act, which was live-streamed on Twitch, Bushnell said that he was protesting against "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.

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[–] sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 64 points 1 year ago

Rest in peace

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 53 points 1 year ago (1 children)

God damn. That is some serious dedication to his beliefs.

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 31 points 1 year ago

I hadn't realized he was only 25.

[–] Notyou@sopuli.xyz 32 points 1 year ago (1 children)

A Secret Service officer approached the scene, aimed a gun at Bushnell off-camera, and ordered him to "get on the ground" multiple times while a police officer yelled: "I don't need guns, I need fire extinguishers!"

That's about right. Someone set themself on fire so let me draw my gun and order him around.

[–] laurelraven@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm just surprised it was a cop saying they didn't need guns...

[–] Zannsolo@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

He was white

[–] merthyr1831@lemmy.ml 20 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Shortly before the Biden Terror Pier in Gaza was announced, which would go on to provide zero aid to Palestinians despite docking in Gaza for 6 months, and helped facilitate the murder of 200 Palestinian civilians in the Nusseirat Massacre.

He was likely aware of preparation for the operation, which drove him to this protest. God rest his soul.

poster by @krime_1 on Instagram. I have a print on my wall to remember him every single day. If even a slither of his courage lives on with me I will die a lion ❤️

[–] uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] MeThisGuy@feddit.nl 1 points 1 year ago

that's a long damn list

[–] vegantomato@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It's very tragic that he took his own life. By staying alive, he had the potential to turn his life around and do a lot of good around him. This act should really be discouraged. He shouldn't have ruined himself, and on top of that given the Zionist scum something to gloat over.