Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Hundreds of demonstrators paraded in the central streets of Venice on Saturday to say “no” to the billionaire Jeff Bezos, his bride and their highly anticipated marriage, who reached his third and last day in the celebrity holidays and the most curry of tired residents.
Friday, the richest fourth man in the world and Lauren Sanchez were married during a private ceremony with around 200 famous guests on the isolated island of San Giorgio Maggiore.
Marriage, however, has angry many Venetians, some activists who protest it as an exploitation of the city by billionaire Bezos, while ordinary residents suffer from over-tourism, high housing costs and constant threat of flooding induced by the climate.
While the two newlyweds were preparing for the last party on Saturday evening, hundreds of Venetians and demonstrators from all of Italy filled the small streets of Venice with colorful banners reading: “Kisses yes, Bezos no” and “No Bezos, no war”.
The demonstration contrasts with the expensive bonanza of marriage, considered by criticism as an affront to the fragile environment of the city of Lagon and its citizens, overwhelmed by crowds of tourists.
“We are here to continue to ruin the plans of these rich, who accumulate money by exploiting many other people – while the conditions of this city remain precarious,” said Martina Vergnano, one of the demonstrators.
The protest organizers won a victory after the wedding party on Saturday, which was to be held in the center of Venice, but which, according to them, was then transferred to a former medieval shipyard, the Arsenale.
Bezos donated one million euros ($ 1.6 million CDN) each to three environmental research organizations working to preserve Venice, according to Corila, the Venetian Environmental Research Association.
But many demonstrators paraded this decision as a clear attempt to appease angry residents.
“We want a free Venice, which is finally dedicated to its citizens. These donations are only a misery and aimed only at cleaning Bezos’ conscience,” said Flavio Cogo, a Venetian activist who joined the demonstration on Saturday.
Friday evening, the details of the exclusive wedding ceremony were a closely kept secret, until the new bride, now Sanchez Bezos, has a photo on Instagram of her radiating in a white dress while she was standing alongside a Bezos dressed in tuxedo.
The athletes, celebrities, influencers and business leaders have converged to revel in the extravagance that testified as much about the love of the couple as their extraordinary wealth.
Look | Day 1 of the wedding draws celebrities on list A, angry demonstrators:
Celebrities from the AS list, including Oprah Winfrey, Mick Jagger and Leonardo DiCaprio, are in Venice for the wedding of the Amazon JEFF BEZOS and Lauren Sanchez. The massive event also attracted demonstrators, angry with the inequality of income which, according to Bezos, illustrate.
The list of star guests included Oprah Winfrey and the Grand Tom Brady, as well as the Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Orlando Bloom, the technological entrepreneur and philanthrope Bill Gates and the best socialists, including the Kardashian-Jenner Clan.
Ivanka Trump, her husband, Jared Kushner, and their three children also joined the celebrations.
The bride and groom stayed at the Aman Venice hotel on the Grand Canal, where Bezos posed for photos and Sanchez Bezos kisses the press.
“The planet burns but do not worry, here is the list of the 27 dresses of Lauren Sanchez,” read a protest slogan, a reference to the wardrobe of the married wedding weekend. It included a wedding dress lined with mermaid by Dolce & Gabbana and other looks inspired by Dolce Vita by Italian designers, including Schiaparelli and Bottega Veneta.
The city administration has strongly defended the wedding in accordance with the tradition of Venice as an open city which has welcomed the popes, emperors and ordinary visitors for centuries.
