Protesters gathered in Venice, Italy on the third day of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s wedding festivities to demonstrate against Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The demonstrators, numbering a few hundred, gathered at a city train station on Saturday with a unified message for the billionaire and his new bride: go away.
Chanting in Italian, the protesters voiced their displeasure, with messages like “Bezos, f**k off” and “Out of our lagoon.” They carried signs and banners, including one with a Shrek-themed message urging Bezos to leave Venice. The protestors expressed concerns about Bezos’ power and his use of the city as a backdrop for his wedding celebrations.
While some may view the protests as driven by envy, 22-year-old Venetian Sofia D’Amato clarified that the issue was not about Bezos’ wealth or status, but about the impact his presence had on the city and its residents. The three-day wedding, estimated to have cost $55 million, was met with mixed reactions, despite Bezos and Sanchez’s donations to Venetian cultural institutions.
Protesters highlighted the contrast between the opulence of the wedding and the everyday struggles faced by workers at Amazon, with some sharing their personal stories of hardship. As the demonstration continued, references to unity and resistance were made through chants and slogans, emphasizing the power of collective action.
The protesters’ diverse backgrounds were reflected in the flags they carried, with symbols of various causes and movements on display. Despite Venice city officials dismissing the protests as “ridiculous” and “grotesque,” the demonstrators remained steadfast in their message against what they perceived as excessive extravagance and inequality.
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