An active-duty member of the United States Air Force was taken to the hospital in critical condition after an act of protest.
Here’s everything we know about Aaron Bushnell, the man who lit himself on fire as a form of protest.
Who was Aaron Bushnell?
Aaron Bushnell was an active-duty service member with the United States Air Force based in San Antonio, Texas.
He joined the armed forces in 2020 and excelled in his class, graduating at the top. Aaron’s expertise lay in cyber security and information systems.
In 2022, Aaron started his journey towards a bachelor’s degree in computer software engineering at Southern New Hampshire University, and he aimed to complete his studies by 2025.
His LinkedIn profile indicated that he was a DevOps engineer, focusing on software development and operations.
How did Aaron Bushnell die?
On February 25, 2024, Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC.
A live-stream on Twitch captured the self-immolation, showing Aaron in military attire approaching the embassy gates.
Prior to igniting himself, Aaron declared his refusal to be silent on what he deemed as genocide, stating, “I’m 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,” Aaron emphasized while burning and shouting “Free Palestine” for about a minute before collapsing.
The flames were extinguished by the US Secret Service officers, and Aaron was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
A day after the incident, a DC police spokesperson confirmed Aaron’s death. He was 25 years old.
According to The Washington Post, the DC police report stated that Aaron passed away at 8:06 pm, just hours after collapsing outside the embassy.
Who is Aaron Bushnell’s family?
Aaron Bushnell is survived by his mother, father, and sibling.
His father, Dave Bushnell, is a home builder and US Army veteran from Massachusetts.
His mother, Danielle Bushnell, is involved in the literary branch of the Community for Jesus church.
Aaron also had a younger brother named Sean Bushnell.
