Tons of of protesters marched by way of Venice’s central streets on Saturday to say “No” to billionaire Jeff Bezos, his bride and their much-awaited wedding ceremony extravaganza, which reached its third and ultimate day amid celebrity-crowded events and the outcries of drained residents.
On Friday, the world’s fourth-richest man and Lauren Sanchez tied the knot throughout a personal ceremony with about 200 superstar visitors on the secluded island of San Giorgio Maggiore.
The marriage, nevertheless, angered many Venetians, with some activists protesting it as an exploitation of town by the billionaire Bezos, whereas extraordinary residents endure from over-tourism, excessive housing prices and the fixed risk of climate-induced flooding.
As the 2 newlyweds ready for the ultimate occasion on Saturday night, lots of of Venetians and protesters from throughout Italy stuffed Venice’s tiny streets with vibrant banners studying, “Kisses Sure, Bezos No” and “No Bezos, No Warfare.”
The demonstration contrasted with the costly wedding ceremony bonanza, seen by critics as an affront to the lagoon metropolis’s fragile setting and its residents, overwhelmed by throngs of vacationers.
Demonstrators maintain smoke flares whereas standing by a banner that reads, ‘No House For Bezos,’ on Venice’s Rialto Bridge on Saturday as they participate in a protest in opposition to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wedding ceremony. (Manuel Silvestri/Reuters)
“We’re right here to proceed ruining the plans of those wealthy folks, who accumulate cash by exploiting many different folks — whereas the situations of this metropolis stay precarious,” mentioned Martina Vergnano, one of many demonstrators.
The protest organizers claimed a victory after Saturday’s wedding ceremony occasion, which was initially to be held in central Venice however which they mentioned was later moved to a former medieval shipyard, the Arsenale.
Bezos donated one million euros ($1.6 million Cdn) every to a few environmental analysis organizations working to protect Venice, in line with Corila, the Venetian environmental analysis affiliation.
However many protesters blasted the transfer as a transparent try and appease indignant residents.
Protesters maintain up an anti-Bezos show at a Venice prepare station on Saturday. (Andrea Pattaro/AFP/Getty Pictures)
“We wish a free Venice, which is lastly devoted to its residents. These donations are only a distress and solely geared toward clearing Bezos’s conscience,” mentioned Flavio Cogo, a Venetian activist who joined Saturday’s protest.
Particulars of the unique wedding ceremony ceremony on Friday night time had been a carefully guarded secret, till the brand new bride, now Sanchez Bezos, posted a photograph to Instagram of herself beaming in a white robe as she stood alongside a tuxedo-clad Bezos.
Athletes, celebrities, influencers and enterprise leaders converged to experience extravagance that was as a lot a testomony to the couple’s love as to their extraordinary wealth.
WATCH | Day 1 of wedding ceremony attracts A-list celebs, indignant protesters:
Bezos-Sanchez wedding ceremony attracts A-list celebs, indignant protesters
A-list celebrities together with Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger and Leonardo DiCaprio are in Venice for the marriage of Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez. The large occasion has additionally drawn protesters, indignant over the earnings inequality they are saying Bezos exemplifies.
The star-studded visitor listing included Oprah Winfrey and NFL nice Tom Brady, together with Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Orlando Bloom, tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Invoice Gates and prime socialites, together with the Kardashian-Jenner clan.
Ivanka Trump, her husband, Jared Kushner, and their three youngsters additionally joined the celebrations.
The bride and groom stayed on the Aman Venice lodge on the Grand Canal, the place Bezos posed for pictures and Sanchez Bezos blew kisses to the press.
“The planet is burning however don’t fret, this is the listing of the 27 clothes of Lauren Sanchez,” learn one protest slogan, a reference to the bride’s reported wedding ceremony weekend wardrobe. It featured a mermaid-lined wedding ceremony robe by Dolce & Gabbana and different Dolce Vita-inspired seems by Italian designers, together with Schiaparelli and Bottega Veneta.
The town administration has strongly defended the nuptials as consistent with Venice’s custom as an open metropolis that has welcomed popes, emperors and extraordinary guests alike for hundreds of years.
