Draft:Aaron Bushnell

Aaron Bushnell (1998 or 1999 - February 25, 2024) was an American airman, known for his self-immolation in protest of the Israel-Hamas war.

Early life
Aaron Bushnell attended Southern New Hampshire University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Computer Software Engineering. He also attended the University of Maryland Global Campus in 2023. Bushnell had worked at the Paraclete Press during 2015-2017 with IT & Web Development.

Bushnell started his career at the United States Air Force (USAF) in May 2020, having done Basic & Technical Training. He was trained as a Client Systems Technician having been educated in cyber security. He later worked as a DevOps Engineer for the USAF while being based in San Antonio, Texas.

Self-immolation
Bushnell reportedly sent a message to media outlets before his planned self-immolation. where he wrote "Today, I am planning to engage in an extreme act of protest against the genocide of the Palestinian people".

On February 25, 2024, at approximately 12:58pm local time, Bushnell approached the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. intending to self-immolate himself as an act of protest against the Israeli-Palestine conflict. He had also created a Twitch account under the name "LillyAnarKitty" with a Palestinian flag as his profile banner with the caption "Free Palestine". While livestreaming, he said "I am an active duty member, of the United States Airforce. And I will no longer be complicit to genocide. I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest. But compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at their hands of their colonizers - it's not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided what will be normal," while walking towards the Israeli Embassy.

Outside the gates of the embassy, Bushnell placed his camera down and positioned himself in front of the gates. He poured a flammable liquid over himself, exclaimed "free Palestine" and threw the canister holding the flammable liquid on the side. A security officer approached Bushnell, asking if he needed help, but was ignored. Bushnell then ignited himself and screamed "free Palestine" four times while the security officer radioed in for assistance. Another police officer approached the scene, aiming a gun at Bushenll off-camera and ordered him to "get on the ground" multiple times.

Multiple officers responded to the scene and used fire extinguishers on Bushnell. He was transported by the DC Fire and EMS to a local hospital where he later died.

Aftermath
The Secret Service, Metropolitan Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced they would investigate the incident.

Twitch removed Bushnell's livestream due to guideline violations.