On February 25, Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire at the gate of the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC as an act of protest against the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. Hostile critics have attempted to shrug off Aaron’s action as the consequence of mental illness. On the contrary, Aaron’s choice was a political action arising from his deeply held anarchist convictions. In the following collection, we share Aaron’s own summary of his politics, followed by testimony from three of Aaron’s close friends.
I understand your sentiment and appreciate it but I disagree with it. I’m not offended but I’m curious if you read all this. In no way is anyone glorifying suicide or encouraging it and his friend from the military states clearly that that’s not what this was. I didn’t read this is as glorifying or martyring him but honoring the message and who this man was. I’m sad as well but would rather do that without directing anger at those remembering him.