Photo from: LinkedIn/Twitter
By: Freda Donnelly @shesbasedbabe
The self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell on Sunday adds to the legacy of loss of life that Palestine continues to accrue. His mental health clearly appears to have been compromised, as no one who is mentally stable would make the choices that lead to setting oneself on fire. These actions, regardless of whether you agree or disagree with their political motivations, are devastating.
Last Words of Aaron Bushnell
Shortly before 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aaron Bushnell initiated a livestream as he headed towards the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C., carrying an insulated water bottle filled with flammable fluid. “I will no longer be complicit in genocide,” he declared in his video, expressing his intention to engage in an extreme act of protest. He juxtaposed his actions with the suffering endured by Palestinians under what he characterized as colonization, stating that his act, while extreme, paled in comparison to their plight. Upon reaching the embassy gates, Bushnell poured the liquid over himself while proclaiming “Free Palestine.” As he struggled to ignite, a law enforcement officer approached, attempting to calm him in his frenzied state. Ignoring the officer’s inquiry, Bushnell proceeded to set himself on fire, screaming “Free Palestine.”
The last words Aaron Bushnell heard were likely the exchange of two law-enforcement officers as he screamed in pain. As heard in Bushnell’s ongoing livestream video, one officer off-camera yelled at him to “get on the ground!” while a second officer shouted, “I don’t need guns, I need fire extinguishers.” Police reports procured by Newsweek state that, by the time the D.C. Fire Department and EMS arrived on the scene, the fire had been put out.
Final Communications
On the day of his death, Aaron Bushnell reached out via email to various left-leaning websites, informing them of his plan for a “highly disturbing” final act. Just hours prior to acting on his plan, Bushnell sent a text message to a friend, who later shared it with the Post. In the message, Bushnell expressed sentiments of affection, writing, “I hope you’ll understand. I love you,” followed by a seemingly paradoxical statement, “This doesn’t even make sense, but I feel like I’m going to miss you.” The Post also reported that weeks earlier, Bushnell and the same friend had discussed their mutual identities as anarchists during a phone call and deliberated on the risks and sacrifices necessary for effectiveness.
This young man had apparently been drawn to communist ideology and anarchy, according to reports from his friends. They also shared that he was looking for a career transition as his contract with the military was coming up for renewal in May. Following the police killing of George Floyd, they say he had become more open in his objection to the military.
One such friend was Levi Pierpont, 23, who met Aarom Bushnell during basic training and has since left the Air Force. Weeks before he tragically passed, the airman discussed his disillusionment with the military and “state-sanctioned violence” with Pierpont. This ideological exchange wasn’t a one-time expression of Aaron’s, as another friend, Lupe Barboza, a comrade from one of his socialist groups, related that he was “outraged, and he knew that no one who is in charge is listening to the protesters out there every week…He knows that he has privilege as a White man and a member of the military.”
Police Reports
It is reasonable to assume that Aaron Bushnell was in a state of extreme distress during the last days and hours of his life. This supposition is supported by a public incident report provided to Newsweek by the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia. The full report reads: “On the specified date, time, and location, a unit from the Secret Service Uniformed Division received a distress call regarding an individual exhibiting signs of mental distress outside the Israeli embassy. Before the Secret Service officers could engage, the individual, referred to as Subject-1 (SUB-1), doused himself with an unidentified liquid and set himself on fire. The Secret Service officers promptly intervened, extinguishing the flames before the arrival of the fire department. SUB-1 was subsequently transported to a local hospital due to the burns sustained from the incident. Despite all lifesaving efforts, Sub-1 died and was pronounced dead by Dr. Hui Zheng at 2006 hours.”
The police later offered this public comment: “On February 25, 2024, at approximately 1:00 p.m., the Metropolitan Police Department responded to the 3500 block of International Drive, NW, to assist the United States Secret Service after a man set himself on fire in front of an embassy. He was transported by DC Fire and EMS to a local hospital where he later died. MPD is working with the USSS and ATF to investigate the incident. The man has been identified as 25-year-old Aaron Bushnell, of San Antonio, TX.”
Bushnell’s video has been taken down by Twitch for violating its terms of service, though edited versions blurring out his burning figure are circulating on social media. The police said in an email that they are aware of the video but are “not confirming the authenticity of this video as it is part of the investigation.”
Potential Underlying Abuse
Aaron Bushnell was raised within the Community of Jesus, an alleged “cult compound” located on Cape Cod. Former members of this group have voiced allegations of abuse and criticized its rigid social hierarchy. A family acquaintance, a former member of the Community of Jesus who spoke to the Washington Post, revealed that Bushnell grew up in a religious compound in Orleans affiliated with the group. According to cult experts, it’s common for young individuals to transition from one highly regimented environment to another, such as joining the military, as Bushnell did. While several former members of this group have levied severe allegations of different forms of abuse, it is unclear whether or not Bushnell was a victim of any abuse that could have led to mental health difficulties from an early age. Frequent diagnoses after escaping from a cult include PTSD or C-PTSD, together with anxiety or depression.
Aaron Bushnell Family & Friends Mourn
Aaron is survived by his father, mother, and brother. His father, Dave Bushnell, is a home builder and U.S. Army veteran from Massachusetts. His mother, Danielle Bushnell, works within the literary branch of the Community of Jesus, and Aaron’s LinkedIn profile listed him as working alongside his mother at the Community of Jesus’ publishing house, Paraclete Press, from 2015 to 2017. Aaron is also survived by a younger brother, Sean Bushnell. Southern New Hampshire University issued a statement confirming Bushnell enrolled online last year to pursue a computer science degree, adding that the University was “deeply saddened by the news of Aaron’s passing and the SNHU community sends its deepest condolences to Aaron’s family and friends.”
Similar sentiments were shared by Col. Celina Noyes, the commander of the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, to which Bushnell was assigned, “When a tragedy like this occurs, every member of the Air Force feels it. We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Senior Airman Bushnell.”
A Brief History
Self-immolation, the extreme act of setting oneself on fire, has a dark and tragic history deeply intertwined with suffering, desperation, and protest. While it has historical roots in religious sacrifice and martyrdom, modern instances are often stark expressions of anguish and defiance against oppression and injustice. Particularly notable examples come from the Vietnam War and Tibetan resistance to Chinese rule.
Self-immolation serves as a shocking and desperate means of drawing attention to grievances and demanding change. However, it also reflects the depths of individual despair and psychological distress, highlighting the profound suffering experienced by those who resort to such drastic measures. While this is a historically rare act of protest, Bushnell was not the first to self-immolate as an act of activism in relation to the Israel-Hamas War. In December, a woman lit herself on fire in front of the Israeli Consulate in Atlanta, surviving but sustaining third-degree burns over her entire body and being hospitalized in critical condition. Tragically, the 61-year-old Army veteran who worked as a security guard at the consulate suffered first, second, and third-degree burns. His suffering demonstrates the selfish and unethical nature of this act of protest.
Despite its capacity to capture attention and spark discourse, self-immolation remains a harrowing symbol of human anguish and the extreme lengths some will go to in the face of unbearable circumstances.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, texting “988” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or going to 988lifeline.org.
Freda Donnelly is the host of Finding the Faith podcast on Rumble and a freelance researcher, writer, and content creator