by Hundreds of demonstrators marched through the narrow streets of Venice on Saturday to protest against the three -day wedding of the billionaire Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez.
They let off smoke lacquer, drink loud music and sang “Bezos from the lagoon”.
They wore posters with the inscription “Money can be able to buy style”, “f-capitalism” and “No Space for Bezos”-a piece on the Blue Origin Space Venture of the Amazon founder and the recent room flight of his new woman.
The estimated 500 demonstrators were shaded by a small phalanx from the turmoil, which was equipped with trimmings, helmets and signs.
The loud demonstration took place as Mr. Bezos, his new wife and her prominent guests, who were ready to bring water taxis from their luxury hotels to the Venetian arsenal, the historic shipbuilding complex of the city, for a final wedding party-highlight of the three-day wedding that the city shared.
“Bezos behaves as if he were king of the world”
Some celebrated the economic effects of the event and the attention that she directed. But activists accuse Mr. Bezos, the most third richest person in the world to have treated Venice as a playground of a rich man, a picturesque backdrop for a wedding that is believed to cost between 40 and 50 million euros.
The demonstrators are angry with the security agreements and the fact that some parts of the city have been closed to the public to give access to Mr. Bezos and his 250 guests, which include Ivanka Trump, Queen Rania from Jordan, Leonardo DiCaprio and the Kardashians.
“Our message is that everyone in Venice is welcome, but no people who cause disorders as he did,” said Oliveiro Cassala, a 43-year-old Demonster who works in a hotel in Venice.
“He came to Venice and acted as if he were king of the world. He believes that he could pay for money and do what he wants. But we are proud people in Venice, and we don’t like it.”
He was wearing a poster that said that the donation from Mr. Bezos was three million euros in Venetian purposes from education to the environment.
“With an estimated net asset of 230 billion US dollars, this donation corresponds to 0.0013 percent of its assets,” he said. “It is as if he had left a tip of three euros. Money does not buy respect, and Venice earns a lot more.”
Other posters with messages with the inscription “Free Palestine” and “Stop Bombarding Iran” were demonstrated to the evening sunshine on the groups of tourists on the evening sunshine and the sipping of Aperol Spritz Cocktails.
Elena Dal Toso, 80, said
“You told me I couldn’t happen – in my own city. It’s fine to get here and get married, many people do it, but not to cause this kind of inconvenience,” she said. “We already have enough problems, such as lack of living space and too much dependence on tourism. I have the feeling that the city has been taken in the past few days in recent days.”
Alice Bazzoli, another activist, said that Venice was “exploited” by Mr. Bezos and his wealthy friends, with Mega yachts being fixed in the lagoon, private jets at the Marco Polo Airport and some parts of the city were blocked off.
“Demonstrators do not represent the majority”
Police officers and Italian soldiers guard the narrow streets in the centuries -old Jewish ghetto in Venice in order to keep all propalestinian demonstrators from the main route of the march.
There were more police police in Blue and White Motor Starts and Jet skis, which were used in the surrounding channels.
But many Venetians welcomed the Bezos wedding and said that Venice would bring enormous economic advantages.
“These demonstrators do not represent the majority,” said Matteo, who heads a trattory near the Venetian arsenal, the event location for the celebrations on Saturday evening. “I think it is good that he came here. He is so rich that he had decided all over the world. He could have gone to New York, St. Tropez or Fiji. But he chose Venice. That says something about what a special place it is.”
When wedding guests, including Bill Gates, Orlando Bloom and Oprah Winfrey, to the Venetian arsenal, in the middle of unconfirmed rumors that they were left by Sir Elton John and Lady Gaga, it remained a puzzle who would actually offer evening entertainment.
The menu consisted of specialties from the Veneti region, including Baccalà or Salzkabeljau, and Tiramisù.
Paparazzi faced a strong challenge when trying to access the venue – the Venetian arsenal is surrounded by high crumpling walls, and there are only a few entrances, all by boat.
Over the centuries, it developed as a place to build merchant ships and warships, which were built for the defense against pirates, commercial rivals and maraudating Turkish fleet.
“That won’t change”
The owner of the legendary Harry’s Bar, who was famous for generations of celebrities, was among those who welcomed Mr. Bezos’s presence and his top -class guests to the banks of the Canal.
Mr. Bezos and his new bride fell into the bar on Saturday afternoon, one day after they had exchanged vows on the tiny island of San Giorgio.
The Amazon founder is “a private person who has come here to get married. I cannot see any problem with it. Venice is Venice and this event will not change anything” Corriere della sera.
He said that only a tiny minority of the 48,000 inhabitants of the city were upset and added: “And I would like to know whether there is a single person among them who bought nothing from Amazon.”
Luigi Brugnaro, the economy, the mayor of Center Rights of Venice, campaigned for the wedding celebrations in the city.
“I understand the protests organized by students – we were all once young. They are idealists and want to organize these conspicuous actions, especially if there is a chance of exciting a lot of media attention. I do not agree with them, but I understand their motivations. I was also a shiny rouser than I was young.”
But he said it was unfair to criticize the security measures that were introduced in view of the international situation and profile of the wedding guests.
He accused left -wing opposition councils to take advantage of the wedding for political goals.
“It is not normal for you to criticize the number of police on site when we risked a World War until a few days ago, and we have the president of the United States here in the city.”
He rejected the criticism that Venice’s soul was eroded by mass tourism, the spread of Airbnb real estate and the population withdrawal and said: “The problem is that around 300 to 400 Venetians die every year and not enough babies are born.
