Protests in Venice have led to what activists are dubbing an "enormous victory" with tech billionaire Jeff Bezos changing the venue for his upcoming wedding celebration. Originally slated to be held at the prestigious Scuola Grande della Misericordia, the lavish festivities will now take place at the Arsenale, located further from the city's center.
Activists from a group named No Space for Bezos took to the streets, asserting their influence over high-profile guests' plans. "We are just citizens who started organizing, and we managed to move one of the most powerful people in the world," Tommaso Cacciari told BBC news. The wedding, set to start later this week, is rumored to feature a star-studded guest list, including celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Leonardi DiCaprio.
The planned celebrations have drawn notable criticism from locals concerned about how such high-profile events exacerbate Venice's struggle with over-tourism and climate change. While private jets and luxury yachts are expected to flood the city, activists argue that the spectacle highlights a lifestyle of excess that stands in stark contrast to the struggles faced by average citizens. As climate change continues to threaten Venice, protesters have expressed concerns about their city's future amidst such exclusive celebrations.
Local officials, including city councillor Simone Venturini, have criticized the protests, asserting that the wealthy contribute significantly to Venice's economy. He called the anti-Bezos sentiment as the view of a "tiny minority," insisting that the event will benefit the city through its carefully curated number of guests.
Although some protest plans, such as launching themselves into canals to block access to exclusive venues, were called off, the activists remain resolute. No Space for Bezos has plans for more demonstrations, including projecting their anti-tourism sentiments onto a city building and organizing a march during the wedding's main event. Activists aim to challenge the notion that times of celebration for billionaires are equivalent to the commodification of Venice itself, urging the public to re-evaluate the impacts of such grandeur on a world heritage site.
