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The much-anticipated wedding of billionaire Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, set for June 24 in Venice, is facing fierce backlash from residents and activists who claim the lavish event is turning the historic city into a “playground for the wealthy.” The $10 million celebration, planned on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, has triggered protests over blocked streets, luxury hotel takeovers, and environmental concerns, threatening to disrupt the Floating City during its peak tourist season.
Venice locals are furious
Venetians are furious over the scale of the wedding, which has led to Bezos reserving five opulent hotels and every water taxi in the city, according to a Daily Mail report. Enhanced security measures, including a heavy police presence, closed streets, and restricted airspace, are expected to accommodate an A-list guest list of celebrities, politicians, and business tycoons. The disruptions coincide with Venice’s busiest travel period, exacerbating tensions in a city already strained by mass tourism.Local activist group Laboratorio Occupato Morion, which describes itself as an “anti-fascist, anti-capitalist, anti-racist, and trans-feminist political space,” is leading the charge against the event. The group has planned a protest for this Friday near St. Mark’s Square, with a larger demonstration scheduled for the wedding day. Their rallying cry, “No space for Bezos, No space for oligarchs!” is emblazoned on flyers featuring Bezos’ head atop a rocket, accusing him of treating Venice as a personal playground.“Jeff Bezos believes he can purchase the entire city,” the group’s flyer declares. “Those who live in Venice on a daily basis are left with discomfort, exclusion, and precariousness.”
What are concerns regarding Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez wedding
The wedding’s environmental impact is a major point of contention. Venice’s fragile lagoon and polluted canals are already under strain from overtourism, and the arrival of private jets—though Bezos’ four Gulfstream jets will be joined by others—adds to the city’s carbon footprint. His $500 million superyacht, Koru, cannot dock near Venice due to its size, but the influx of guests is expected to further stress the city’s delicate ecosystem.“Bezos embodies what this city and global movements have been fighting against for decades—a financial and technological oligarchy that exploits workers, the planet, and entire territories,” said Alice Bazzoli, a spokesperson for Laboratorio Occupato Morion, in an interview with the Daily Mail. The group views the wedding as a symbol of growing inequality and the commodification of Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage Site struggling to preserve its cultural and environmental heritage.
Full week of protests planned
The protests last week is said to be just the beginning, with Laboratorio Occupato Morion planning a series of smaller events in the week leading up to the wedding, culminating in a major demonstration on June 24. Activists argue that the event highlights the broader issue of Venice being overtaken by wealthy elites, leaving locals feeling marginalized in their own city.City officials have not yet commented on the protests or the wedding’s logistical arrangements, but the growing unrest signals a clash between Venice’s residents and the global elite. As the wedding date approaches, all eyes are on whether Bezos and Sanchez’s celebration will proceed as planned or face significant disruptions from an increasingly vocal opposition.
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