SAN FRANCISCO — Activist groups are planning to gather later today outside the Israeli Consulate in downtown San Francisco to mark the second anniversary of the death of Senior Airman Aaron Bushnell, the U.S. Air Force member who died in 2024 after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.
The demonstration is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 456 Montgomery St. Organizers are encouraging attendees to bring drums, whistles, pots and pans, as well as Palestinian flags, signs and banners.
The event is being hosted by Noisemakers Against Genocide, the San Francisco and Monterey chapters of Veterans for Peace, CODEPINK Bay Area, and the Revolutionary Love Brigade.
Promotional materials describe the gathering as an event to honor Bushnell and protest U.S. support for Israel. Organizers state the demonstration is intended to call attention to what they describe as U.S. complicity in the conflict in Gaza.
The Salty Soldier reached out to the listed event contact prior to publication to request additional comment regarding the purpose and tone of the gathering. No response was received by press time. This article will be updated if organizers provide a statement.
Bushnell, 25, died on Feb. 25, 2024, after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. Immediately before the act — which he livestreamed — Bushnell said he was protesting what he described as U.S. complicity in the suffering of Palestinians. He repeatedly shouted “Free Palestine” before U.S. Secret Service officers extinguished the flames. He later died at a hospital from his injuries.
Bushnell enlisted in the Air Force in 2020 and was trained as a client systems technician specializing in cybersecurity. He later worked as a DevOps engineer and was pursuing a degree in software engineering.
His death drew national and international attention. Some pro-Palestinian activists characterized the act as a political protest against U.S. foreign policy. Others warned against portraying self-harm as a legitimate or heroic form of protest, citing concerns about copycat incidents.
CODEPINK was founded in 2002 by activists including Medea Benjamin and Jodie Evans in opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq. The women-led grassroots organization describes its mission as ending U.S.-funded wars and militarism, promoting human rights, and redirecting military spending toward domestic priorities such as healthcare and education. The group is known for high-visibility, nonviolent demonstrations, including protests inside congressional hearings and outside the White House.
Veterans for Peace is a national organization of military veterans that advocates for ending war as an instrument of national policy. Its statement of purpose includes increasing public awareness of the costs of war, opposing militarization of law enforcement, reducing nuclear weapons, and promoting nonviolent conflict resolution. The organization amended its statement of purpose in December 2024, reaffirming its commitment to nonviolent activism.
Noisemakers Against Genocide and the Revolutionary Love Brigade are activist collectives that have participated in demonstrations related to U.S. foreign policy and the Israel–Hamas war. Public information about their structure and leadership is limited, but both groups have appeared at Bay Area protests in recent months.
As of Wednesday morning, local authorities had not publicly announced road closures or specific security measures related to the planned demonstration.
This is a developing story. The Salty Soldier will update coverage following the conclusion of today’s event or if organizers provide additional comment.
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