Prominent gay rights lawyer dies after setting himself on fire in New York Park
David Buckel left a suicide note in a shopping trolley near his body that said he hoped his death was ‘honourable’ and ‘might serve others’
A prominent gay rights lawyer has died after setting himself on fire in a New York park to protest pollution and the use of fossil fuels.
The body of David Buckel was found in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park early Saturday. He left a note in a nearby shopping trolley that he also emailed to several news outlets including The New York Times, the paper reported.
“Pollution ravages our planet, oozing inhabitability via air, soil, water and weather,” he wrote in the email sent to the Times.
“Most humans on the planet now breathe air made unhealthy by fossil fuels, and many die early deaths as a result – my early death by fossil fuel reflects what we are doing to ourselves,” the email continued.
Buckel said he wanted his death to lead to increased action, writing: “Honourable purpose in life invites honourable purpose in death.”
Police confirmed that the body of a 60-year-old man had been found in the park after he set himself on fire but could not confirm the contents of the note.
