Protests in Venice have led to an unexpected shift in the plans of tech giant Jeff Bezos, who has changed the venue for his high-profile wedding celebration following strong public resistance. The billionaire's nuptials to TV presenter Lauren Sanchez were initially set to have a lavish finale at the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a historical site in the city's heart. However, local officials confirmed that the celebration would now take place at the Arsenale, located away from the city center.
Activists are celebrating what they call an "enormous victory," as the grassroots group “No Space for Bezos” mobilized citizens to voice their concerns about the impact of such extravagant events on the city. “We're just citizens who started organizing,” remarked Tommaso Cacciari from the group, “and we managed to move one of the most powerful people in the world out of the city.”
The three-day wedding event is expected to attract a glittering guest list featuring top celebrities and wealthy elites, causing local concerns about over-tourism and its effects on Venice's residents. With private jets expected to congest the airport and numerous hotels booked for the occasion, locals fear that the flourishing tourism industry is marginalizing them.
The protests have gathered momentum from various factions opposing Bezos, including environmentalists, advocates against wealth inequality, and residents demanding sustainable tourism practices. Protesters have taken to the streets with banners and calls for greater awareness about the detrimental effects of unchecked tourism on historical locales. One Greenpeace campaigner, Simona Abbate, highlighted that the festivities symbolize a lavish lifestyle contributing to a climate crisis disproportionately affecting those in lower socioeconomic strata.
Despite the unrest, some city officials argue that high-profile events like Bezos's bring economic benefits to Venice. “These protesters behave as if they own Venice, but they don’t," asserted grid councillor Simone Venturini, responding to the backlash. He emphasized that the event would bring significant income, contending that it involves a select 200 guests who are not representative of the general tourism influx.
Despite a recently implemented tourist tax aimed at curbing visitor numbers, activists are unimpressed, asserting that it has not deterred tourists. The backlash culminated in plans by demonstrators to block luxury arrivals with inflatable alligators in the canals, though those plans have since been called off. Instead, “No Space for Bezos” is coordinating a city building projection and a protest march in solidarity against the growing disparity stemming from overt opulence.
Cacciari expressed a broader concern about the commodification of Venice, stating that Bezos’s wedding epitomizes a trend turning the historic city into a mere playground for the ultra-rich, rather than a vibrant community open to all. His comments encapsulate the sentiments of locals who yearn to preserve their culture and home from being overshadowed by wealth and extravagance.
