Interview with Levi Pierpont

Alex: I interviewed a hearing man who knew Aaron Bushnell, the 25-year-old Air Force serviceman who died after he set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in D.C. to protest the war against Palestine.

Hello. Can you introduce yourself and explain how you knew Aaron Bushnell?

Levi Pierpont: My name is Levi Pierpont. I used to be in the military. I went to basic training with Aaron. That is how we met.

Alex: They were in basic training in the Air Force together in 2020. Later on, Levi left the military as a conscientious objector. I asked Levi what his reaction was when he found out about what Aaron did.

Levi: I saw a text from my old pastor. Her name is Sarah. She texted me. At that time, I didn’t know that I knew him. I knew that there was a person, that it happened. I saw the news headline. But I didn’t know. She said that the name is Aaron Bushnell. I said, “That’s my friend. I knew him. I went to training with him.” We talked about all of it. Yeah. It’s hard.

Alex: They had a bond because both were passionate about social justice and were disillusioned with the military. I asked Levi what made him feel this way about the military.

Levi: I saw how the military, how the eyes of the military were always looking all over the world. I realized that if it was a time of peace, the military, the reason the military exists is for… not peace. It doesn’t help the military. The military exists, the military is here for fighting. I realize that a lot of my friends in the military didn’t see things the same way that I did. I thought… back then, I thought war was necessary but evil. But for a lot of my friends in intelligence training, they may like what the military was doing. That was hard for me. I remember one day we were watching a video. Some hard things happened. I saw a person die. I saw a person killed by the Air Force. I sat there in shock. I knew that it was real. It was not a movie. My friends, some of them, laughed. I realized that I couldn’t continue with intel. Later I decided that I couldn’t stay in the military.

Alex: I asked Levi what he thought was in Aaron’s mind when he decided to self-immolate.

Levi: I know that everything that was happening in Gaza was important to him. I don’t know what changed. What changed from him initially wanting to help, to provide support with his life to deciding to support them with his death. It’s hard for me. I could never do the same. If he asked me before it happened, I would plead for him to not do it. But I think he became — he felt helpless. He felt like he didn’t have a real way to rebel against the military, what it was doing. I think he just decided… He felt like it was the only option.

Alex: Can you share if you think he had some mental issues?

Levi: All the talk about his mental health has nothing to do with him. I know he was really mentally fit. I know he received a 99 on his military entrance exam. The ASVAB. It’s not the most difficult test but 99 is the highest score you can receive. I had enough conversations with him to know that he was smart. He was wise. He knew what he was doing.

Alex: I asked him what he would remember Aaron for, what the impact of his legacy would be.

Levi: I will always try to follow his legacy of standing up and saying I will not be complicit in genocide. In what’s happening in the world. I will always remember that. I want other people to remember him. To decide to do similar… I want people to make a similar commitment.

Alex: Commitment.

Levi: Commitment, yes. I want people to make a commitment to things that they believe in. I don’t — I don’t want any person to follow what he did. But to follow his legacy, to follow on focusing on your values. Show the world that you care about people and their suffering.

Alex: Thank you, Levi, for sharing. This gives us a deeper insight of who Aaron Bushnell was and a perspective on the military.

-——

Sponsored video by Convo: www.convorelay.com

———

988 Helpline (Description)

Exciting News! The 988 Lifeline launched new American Sign Language services for callers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. It’s a new resource for people to access help when they need it. Visit 988lifeline.org and select “ASL Now.”

———