Protesters in Venice are declaring an "enormous victory" after tech mogul Jeff Bezos and his wedding entourage have been compelled to relocate their high-profile celebration. Originally slated to take place in the historic heart of Venice at the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, sources now indicate that the festivities will occur at the more distant Arsenale.
Activists, spurred by rising concerns over tourism's impact on the city's fragile ecosystem, are reveling in their sense of achievement, even as local officials criticize their actions as "ridiculous." Tommaso Cacciari, a representative from the grassroots organization No Space for Bezos, expressed pride in their collective voice, emphasizing, "We're just citizens who started organizing and we managed to move one of the most powerful people in the world - all the billionaires - out of the city."
With the three-day wedding approaching, a lineup of A-list celebrities is expected, potentially including Kim Kardashian, Mick Jagger, and Leonardo DiCaprio, among others. This mega-event has drawn not only the elite but substantial foot traffic in private jets and yachts, leading to concerns about overcrowding at local accommodations and the airport.
Local protests have intensified, spotlighting issues surrounding climate change and economic disparity. Banners proclaiming "If you can rent Venice for your wedding then you can pay more tax" serve to highlight the activists' frustration about wealth inequality and environmental degradation. Simona Abbate, a Greenpeace advocate, lamented that the opulence celebrated in this wedding disregards the ongoing climate emergency, stating, "The richest live in excess, while others endure the consequences."
City officials have countered that the influx of wealthy visitors is essential for the local economy, asserting that they do not possess the right to dictate who can marry in Venice. Councilor Simone Venturini labeled the protestors an "insignificant minority," emphasizing the economic benefits brought by these private events.
While local authorities have attempted to address overtourism with measures like a five-euro daily tax for visitors, activists argue it has failed to mitigate the issue. In response to this contentious atmosphere, the No Space for Bezos group had initially considered staging a protest involving inflatable alligators in the city's canals but has opted to reroute that effort toward projecting their dissent onto city buildings instead.
As the first guests are set to arrive, No Space for Bezos plans to hold a march on Saturday evening, expressing an ongoing concern that visitors like Bezos view Venice as an ornamental backdrop for exclusive gatherings rather than respecting its rich cultural heritage. Cacciari summarizes their position, saying, "He's sending the message that all the city is a background for a party of billionaires."
