Hundreds of protesters marched through Venice's narrow streets on Saturday, capping three days of demonstrations against Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's lavish wedding celebration in the historic Italian city. The demonstrators, carrying banners reading "Kisses yes, Bezos No" and "No Bezos, No War," filled central avenues as the billionaire couple concluded their reported €42 million wedding festivities.
The protests represent the culmination of mounting tensions between local residents and what activists view as the exploitation of their city by the world's fourth-richest person.
Bezos, 61, and Sánchez, 55, exchanged vows Friday evening on the private island of San Giorgio Maggiore before approximately 200 celebrity guests, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Brady, and members of the Kardashian family12. The couple concluded their celebrations Saturday with a pajama-themed party at the historic Arsenale shipyard3.
But the opulent festivities sparked outrage among Venetians already struggling with overtourism, soaring housing costs, and climate-related flooding14. "We are here to disrupt the plans of the wealthy, who amass fortunes by taking advantage of many others while this city remains in a fragile state," protester Martina Vergnano told NPR1.
The demonstrations, organized under the "No Space for Bezos" movement, appear to have forced organizers to relocate Saturday's reception from its original venue to the more secure Arsenale location14.
Local activists expressed concerns beyond the wedding's immediate impact. They criticized Bezos's political associations, particularly his presence at President Donald Trump's inauguration, and cited Amazon's labor practices12. "Bezos is not a Hollywood actor," said activist Tommaso Cacciari, according to ABC7. "He is an ultra-billionaire who sat next to Donald Trump during the inauguration, who contributed to his reelection"2.
The protests included theatrical elements, with demonstrators earlier floating a dummy of Bezos clutching an Amazon box down the Grand Canal3. Environmental group Greenpeace joined earlier actions, unfurling banners reading "If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax"45.
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro defended the celebration as an honor for the city, calling protesters' actions shameful12. Bezos donated €1 million to three local environmental research organizations, though activists dismissed this as a token gesture34.
"We desire a liberated Venice, one that prioritizes its citizens," local activist Flavio Cogo told NPR. "Those donations are merely a token gesture aimed at alleviating Bezos' guilt"3.
