Protestors Posing Threat to Disrupt Jeff Bezos' Wedding by Filling Venice Canals with Inflatable Crocodiles
In the heart of Italy, the historic city of Venice is gearing up for a grand event, but not everyone is celebrating. Jeff Bezos, the world's richest man, is set to tie the knot this week in a reported $75 million wedding [1]. However, the event has sparked controversy and protests from local activists who argue that the wedding symbolises the privatisation of their city and the impact of overtourism [2][3].
The centre of the controversy is the perceived prioritisation of tourism interests over the needs of Venice's residents. Activists, including housing advocates, anti-cruise ship groups, university groups, and international environmental organisations like Greenpeace, have taken to the streets to voice their concerns [2].
One of the most visible demonstrations was the unfurling of a large banner in St. Mark's Square, which read, "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax" [1]. Posters and stickers with Bezos's face and the phrase "No space for Bezos," a reference to his spaceflight, have been placed around the city [1][2].
Protesters have also organised small-scale protests and unfurled anti-Bezos banners at iconic Venetian sites. One such banner criticised tax breaks for billionaires, which was later removed by police [2]. More dramatically, activists threatened to block access to canals with boats to prevent wedding guests from reaching the venue, although this was later adjusted [2][4].
The wedding ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday at the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica on San Giorgio Maggiore island. The original reception venue was the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, but it has been changed to the Venetian Arsenal, a 12th-century complex of former armories and shipyards [1].
Venice officials project the economic benefits from the wedding to be in the low eight digits, with a $1 million donation to groups including a research institute [1]. However, the Washington Post notes that other big weddings in Venice over the past two decades, such as George Clooney's wedding in 2014 and an Indian heiress's wedding in 2011, did not attract protests [5].
Mayor Luigi Brugnaro has dismissed the backlash as not representative of the majority and emphasised that the city is proud to host the event, assuring that the wedding will be carefully managed to avoid disruption [3]. Despite this, the protests continue, with activists inviting everyone in the area to join a march on Saturday, using projections to protest the wedding [2].
Sources: [1] The Guardian [2] The Washington Post [3] BBC News [4] CNN [5] The Washington Post
- Gizmodo reports that activists in Venice, Italy, are protesting Jeff Bezos's upcoming $75 million wedding, arguing it symbolizes the city's privatization and the impact of overtourism.
- The controversy stems from the perceived prioritization of tourism interests over Venice's residents, with housing advocates, anti-cruise ship groups, university groups, and international organizations like Greenpeace voicing their concerns.
- Protests have included street demonstrations, posters with Bezos's face and phrases like "No space for Bezos," referencing his spaceflight, and banners criticizing tax breaks for billionaires.
- Activists have threatened to block canals with boats to prevent wedding guests from reaching the venue, although the plans have been adjusted, and a march is planned for Saturday.
- The wedding is scheduled to take place this Friday at the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica, with the original reception venue changed from the Scuola Grande della Misericordia to the Venetian Arsenal, due to policy and legislation concerns surrounding the event.
