As the planned wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sánchez approaches, uproar among Venice residents intensifies, revealing deep-seated frustrations over the commodification of their beloved city.
A Local Uproar: Venetians Protest Bezos' Upcoming Wedding
A Local Uproar: Venetians Protest Bezos' Upcoming Wedding
Residents express outrage over Jeff Bezos' lavish wedding, labeling Venice a playground for the wealthy.
In a spirited gathering near the iconic Rialto Bridge, Venetians from various citizen groups convened on Friday night to voice their discontent regarding the impending nuptials set for late June. Outraged locals are planning protests on June 26, 27, and 28, coinciding with the arrival of hundreds of guests for the celebration.
Though exact details remain undisclosed, protest organizer Federica Toninello indicated that one potential venue for the ceremony could be The Misericordia, a historic building transformed into an event hall. “Bezos will never get to the Misericordia,” she declared, rallying approximately 300 attendees to physically obstruct the event. “We will line the streets with our bodies, block the canals with lifesavers, dinghies, and boats,” she promised to enthusiastic applause.
A large display reading “No Space [with an image of a spaceship] For Bezos” highlighted the collective sentiment among residents, who are increasingly frustrated by the rising tourism and skyrocketing housing costs that alienate them from their own city. “We need to stop Bezos and fight against the transformation of Venice into a mere tourist haven,” Toninello emphasized.
As the wedding weekend coincides with the influx of thousands of tourists during peak season, City Hall has introduced a controversial entry fee on weekends and holidays to manage crowd sizes. Protesters are anxious about the additional stress on local resources due to heightened security measures for high-profile guests, further disrupting the day-to-day lives of Venice's already dwindling resident population.
Despite the furor, representatives for Mr. Bezos and Ms. Sánchez have refrained from commenting on the protests or the ceremony’s logistics, leaving many Venetians feeling unheard amidst their impending short-lived invasion of opulence.
Though exact details remain undisclosed, protest organizer Federica Toninello indicated that one potential venue for the ceremony could be The Misericordia, a historic building transformed into an event hall. “Bezos will never get to the Misericordia,” she declared, rallying approximately 300 attendees to physically obstruct the event. “We will line the streets with our bodies, block the canals with lifesavers, dinghies, and boats,” she promised to enthusiastic applause.
A large display reading “No Space [with an image of a spaceship] For Bezos” highlighted the collective sentiment among residents, who are increasingly frustrated by the rising tourism and skyrocketing housing costs that alienate them from their own city. “We need to stop Bezos and fight against the transformation of Venice into a mere tourist haven,” Toninello emphasized.
As the wedding weekend coincides with the influx of thousands of tourists during peak season, City Hall has introduced a controversial entry fee on weekends and holidays to manage crowd sizes. Protesters are anxious about the additional stress on local resources due to heightened security measures for high-profile guests, further disrupting the day-to-day lives of Venice's already dwindling resident population.
Despite the furor, representatives for Mr. Bezos and Ms. Sánchez have refrained from commenting on the protests or the ceremony’s logistics, leaving many Venetians feeling unheard amidst their impending short-lived invasion of opulence.
