Chicago Man Immolates Self in Protest of Iraq War

[zenturtle]

Man sets himself on fire on Kennedy
Drivers watched as he dies near 'Flame' sculpture

November 4, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/123692,CST-NWS-bodyfire04.article

As horrified Friday-morning commuters watched, a man apparently doused himself with gasoline and lit himself on fire along the Kennedy Expy. near a 25-foot-tall Loop sculpture titled "Flame of the Millennium."

A homemade sign was found near his charred body that read, "Thou Shalt Not Kill," said State Police Lt. Lincoln Hampton. Police are reviewing a videotape that also was found near the body.

The death of the man, whose identity has not been released, was being treated as a suicide, authorities said.

Witnesses told police they saw the man ignite himself just before 7 a.m. near the southbound Kennedy's Ohio Street exit, Hampton said.

The Chicago Fire Department was called to the scene to help extinguish the fire, which was set at the base of the seven-ton sculpture along the Kennedy.

An Illinois Department of Transportation worker was among those to witness the incident, according to a preliminary report.

A can of clear liquid smelling like gasoline also was recovered, the report said.

__________________

for more information see:
http://blogs.chicagoreader.com/post-no-bills/2006/11/07/malachi-ritschers-apparent-suicide/

[bryant69]

1. Yes let's do this again

Is this guy a hero? Or a loser?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. Loser, unless

he voted by absentee ballot.

[zenturtle]

8. I would say neither...

He refers to himself in his self-written obituary as a spiritual warrior. I would say there may be some truth to that. What was relevant to this in the link you posted?

[HereSince1628]

2. Yes, an almost completely overlooked protest.

What a loss. The act was cited as having created some traffic congestion.

[OwnedByFerrets]

4. I almost cried when I first read this.......

what a waste:banghead:

[bowens43]

5. This does great harm to the anti-war movement. nt

[file83]

6. Interesting angle. Why do you suggest that?

[file83]

7. This was already discussed a while ago. Does the OP have any comments

you'd like to add, or did you just feel like posting an already discussed article for kicks?

[zenturtle]

9. I didn't realize it had been discussed already

Sorry, I'm relatively new to this and I didn't know how to double-check that. I just heard about this story from a friend today. I am saddened and disturbed by his act, and also disturbed although not surprised that it received little if any mainstream media coverage.

[file83]

10. Didn't notice you were so new - it's no big deal - and Welcome to DU!

:hi:

It's a good idea to use the "Search" function to search for articles to see if it's already been discussed (especially articles more than a few days old).

I agree with you that this story about this self burning for anti-war reasons was tragic. In fact, the crux to the story and discussion in earlier threads was how this story was almost completely off the main stream media's radar.

Again, I apologize for not noticeing you were new (only 8 posts!) - I should have checked - so in a way I didn't do my "research" as well!

Keep up the posting of articles and please add your angle to the stories. Your opinion counts!

[zenturtle]

11. thanks file83 - no harm done

No worries, and thank you for the information and welcome. This was all I could find when I searched -- is there more?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=248240

There is a wealth of intelligent and thought-provoking discussion going on at this site.... impossible to keep up with it all! I will definitely continue to read and post when I feel moved to do so :-)

[newyawker99]

12. Hi zenturtle!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: