Alwaght- Some army veterans in the US have burned their military uniforms in gatherings held after death of an airman, Aaron Bushnell, who on Monday set fire to himself outside the Israeli embassy in Washington in protest at US-enabled Israeli genocide in Gaza.
A video that is viral on X showd veterans burning their uniforms at a vigil for Aaron Bushnell in Portland, Oregon.
"A moving act of solidarity as veterans burn their uniforms at a vigil for Aaron Bushnell hosted by veterans against war. This was after some extremely moving speeches, including a Vietnam War veteran who was a part of the SDS and did a lot of anti-war organizing,” an X user said. A caption of the video read: “Veterans say: Free Palestine! Remember Aaron Bushnell”.
Other similar protests were held elsewhere in the US.
In a stirring demonstration of protest and unity, US veterans, alongside anti-war activists, united in downtown San Jose to honor Aaron Bushnell, a young Air Force member who tragically ended his life in a profound statement against the war in Gaza.
This act, occurring at the steps of the MLK Library, not only commemorated Bushnell's life but also amplified a collective call for peace and an end to the violence that has ravaged Gaza.
The vigil saw a convergence of various voices, from veterans who had seen the horrors of war firsthand to activists dedicated to peace. They gathered to remember Aaron Bushnell, who, at the age of 25, chose self-immolation as a stark opposition to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Among the speakers was a Vietnam War veteran, whose history of anti-war organizing lent a poignant backdrop to the event. The gathering underscored the urgency of peace talks, with mentions of a potential temporary cease-fire in the Hamas-Israel conflict, despite the apparent reluctance of political leaders to push forward towards peace.
"The act of burning uniforms was not just a symbolic gesture but a deeply personal one, echoing Bushnell's ultimate sacrifice. Participants shared stories and reflections on the cost of war, highlighting over 29,000 Palestinian casualties since the conflict's onset. Bushnell, who served as a cyber defense operations specialist, was remembered not only for his tragic departure but for his unwavering commitment to peace and his hope to make a statement without inflicting harm on others," media activist and journalist Nitish Verma write for BNN news.
