U.S. airman Aaron Bushnell's death sparks wave of pro-Palestine support in U.S.

U.S. airman Aaron Bushnell's death has sparked American people's support for Palestinians in Gaza as vigils were held in various U.S. cities to commemorate him.

Americans including peace activists, Palestinian supporters, as well as army veterans took part in the vigils to voice their support for Gaza.

Footage from a vigil held in Portland on Wednesday showed a group of U.S. veterans burning their uniforms to show their support of Bushnell, according to The New Arab.

The protesters stood in front of a banner that read: "Veterans say: Free Palestine! Remember Aaron Bushnell," The New Arab reported.

Bushnell, a 25-year-old U.S. Air Force airman, died several hours after setting himself ablaze outside the Israeli embassy to protest against Israeli raids on Gaza on Sunday.

"I will no longer be complicit in genocide. 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," Bushnell said prior to setting himself on fire.

"Free Palestine," screamed the airman as he poured liquid on himself and set himself on fire, before collapsing on the ground.

He is the second person known to have self-immolated in the U.S. as an act of protest against the Israeli military operation in Gaza, which has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians since it began in October 2023.

In December, a person self-immolated outside the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, using gasoline as an accelerant, according to Atlanta's fire authorities. A Palestinian flag was found at the scene, and the act was believed to be one of "extreme political protest."

Read more:

Self-immolation coverage … All the news that's 'fit to fade'?

(With input from agencies)