Twenty-one years ago, Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old woman from Olympia, Washington, tragically lost her life under the weight of an 80,000-pound bulldozer operated by an Israeli soldier. Corrie was part of a team of international peace activists who volunteered to protect Palestinian homes from demolition by Israeli settlers.
Her final moments were recounted by Mother Jones magazine, detailing her efforts to prevent the destruction of Palestinian pharmacist Samir Nasrallah’s home in the Gaza Strip town of Rafah.
Witnesses asserted that Corrie’s death was intentional, with the bulldozer’s operator deliberately running over her and then reversing the vehicle. In the aftermath, Palestinians in Gaza hailed her as a martyr, commemorating her with a massive funeral, annual football tournaments, and dedications of streets and shrines in her honor.
Four years after Corrie’s death, another incident shook the world’s attention: the self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell, an active-duty United States Air Force member, outside the Israeli embassy in Washington. Like Corrie, Bushnell’s sacrifice garnered widespread recognition, with Palestinians and antiwar activists hailing him as a martyr for the Palestinian cause.
The actions of Corrie and Bushnell highlight the power of solidarity, transcending borders and identities in the pursuit of justice. They both sacrificed their lives to draw attention to the plight of Palestinians and challenge oppressive systems.
The media’s portrayal of white allies like Corrie and Bushnell has often been dismissive or delegitimizing, reminiscent of historical narratives that undermined the efforts of activists such as Viola Liuzzo during the civil rights movement. However, their sacrifices underscore the importance of interracial solidarity in resistance movements.
Corrie and Bushnell’s acts of solidarity echo a long history of white allies supporting oppressed communities, from the Weather Underground’s antiwar efforts to the activism of Ronnie Kasrils and Ruth First against apartheid in South Africa.
Corrie and Bushnell’s legacies serve as reminders of the ongoing struggle for justice and the enduring power of solidarity in challenging oppression and advocating for change.
