Quote from Alex bobby on June 19, 2025, 8:09 AM

“We Don’t Need Bezos”: Venice Activists Mobilise Against Tech Billionaire’s Lavish Wedding

As final preparations are being made for the €10 million wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former TV journalist Lauren Sánchez, another group in Venice is busy drawing up plans of a very different kind. Activists from the No Space for Bezos campaign are organising a city-wide protest to send a clear message: the billionaire is not welcome in their beleaguered city.

The campaign, a coalition of Venetian residents and local rights groups, has no quarrel with the wedding itself. Instead, their outrage is rooted in what the event symbolises — the commodification of Venice, the glorification of extreme wealth, and the sidelining of ordinary citizens.

“A City That People Come and Consume”

“We are not protesting the wedding per se,” organiser Marta Sottoriva told Euronews. “But a vision of Venice … as a city that people come and consume.”

Venice has long grappled with over-tourism, and events like Bezos’ high-profile wedding — complete with mega-yachts, 200 elite guests, and bookings at the city’s most luxurious hotels — serve as a stark reminder of the widening gap between the city’s residents and the global rich who view Venice as a backdrop for opulence.

For Sottoriva and her fellow campaigners, Bezos is not just a groom — he’s a symbol of exploitative capitalism. They point to Amazon’s anti-union record, tax avoidance controversies, and the massive environmental footprint of his various ventures, including space travel and private yacht fleets.

Too many Venetians, this wedding exemplifies the sale of their city to the highest bidder.

Protest Plans: Blocking Streets, Clogging Canals

The No Space for Bezos protest is set to peak on June 28, when activists will launch coordinated actions across the city. Plans include blocking streets, paddling boats and kayaks through canals, and even jumping into the water — all part of a disruptive but peaceful demonstration designed to reclaim public space.

Already, the campaign has made waves. On Thursday, activists scaled the bell tower of the historic San Giorgio Basilica and unfurled a banner with Bezos’ name crossed out. Posters denouncing the wedding have been plastered across the city, declaring “We don’t need Bezos. We need houses, decent wages, and a sustainable future.”

Sottoriva promises that the protest will have a celebratory edge as well, with musicians and performers joining in to turn the event into a “party for the city.”

Venice’s Battle with Over-Tourism

Venice, with its romantic canals and historic charm, has become a poster child for over-tourism. With roughly 30 million tourists visiting each year and only 51,000 residents remaining in the historic city centre, many Venetians feel outnumbered and out-priced.

Rising housing costs, closures of local businesses, and the gradual erosion of community life have fuelled growing discontent. Though the city has introduced measures like a daily tourist tax to stem the tide, critics argue these efforts have done little to change the status quo.

To some, Bezos’ wedding is not just a social event — it’s a flashpoint in a larger struggle over Venice’s identity and future.

Not Everyone Agrees

Yet not all Venetians are opposed to the wedding. Local business owners who cater to luxury clientele view events like this as a boon. “It’s good for the economy,” one hotel manager told Italian media. “We should be welcoming them, not pushing them away.”

Venice’s mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, has made his position clear. “We are very proud,” he said, referring to Bezos’ choice of venue. “Venice once again reveals itself to be a global stage.”

Brugnaro even expressed hope that he might meet the billionaire during his visit. “It’s an honour that they chose Venice,” he added.

But for many residents, this “honour” comes at a cost. The prioritisation of celebrity events and luxury tourism over the basic needs of locals — like affordable housing, fair wages, and accessible public services — is a sore point that the Bezos wedding has brought into sharp focus.

A Tale of Two Venices

In many ways, the Bezos wedding has become a symbol of a broader divide — between a Venice that caters to the whims of global elites, and a Venice that still belongs to the people who live and work there.

For the activists of No Space for Bezos, the message is clear: “We don’t need billionaires using our city as a playground,” Sottoriva said. “We need a Venice that respects its residents, protects its heritage, and builds a sustainable future for all.”

On June 28, as guests sip champagne and celebrate under crystal chandeliers, another group will be dancing in the streets, making noise on the canals, and declaring that Venice is not for sale.

Conclusion

Jeff Bezos’ extravagant wedding in Venice has become more than a high-society event — it’s now a flashpoint in the ongoing battle over the city’s identity and future. For activists and residents, the celebration represents the unchecked commodification of a city already strained by mass tourism and rising inequality. While local authorities and some businesses may welcome the global attention and economic boost, many Venetians are calling for a different vision — one where the city prioritises affordable housing, fair wages, and the preservation of its cultural soul over the demands of the ultra-wealthy. As the world watches the festivities unfold, protesters hope to send a powerful message: Venice is not a playground for billionaires — it is a living city, and it belongs to its people.

Meta Description:
Venetian activists are planning major protests against Jeff Bezos' €10 million wedding in Venice, opposing the billionaire’s presence as a symbol of over-tourism and inequality in the historic city.