Environmental Protest Erupts as Greenpeace Targets Bezos’ Venice Wedding

Greenpeace Joins Venice Protests Against Jeff Bezos’ High-Profile Wedding.

Environmental group Greenpeace has joined protests against the upcoming wedding of Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sánchez, set to take place in Venice this week. Touted as the “wedding of the century,” the event is expected to draw around 200 celebrity guests, including Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, along with high-profile figures from the worlds of business, fashion, and film.

While details remain tightly guarded, celebrations are believed to span three days, from June 26 to 28, at multiple exclusive venues across the historic city.

Protest in St. Mark’s Square
On Monday, Greenpeace activists and members of the UK-based group “Everyone Hates Elon” staged a protest in St. Mark’s Square, unfurling a large banner with an image of Bezos laughing and the message:
“If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more tax.”

Police soon arrived, verified identification, and asked the group to remove the banner. Protesters criticized the symbolism of billionaires hosting lavish events in a city struggling with over-tourism and depopulation.

“The problem isn’t the wedding itself—it’s the system. A billionaire shouldn’t be able to treat an entire city as a private venue,” said protester Simona Abbate.

A City at Odds
While local officials have defended the event, citing potential benefits for local businesses, many residents argue Venice needs affordable housing and essential services, not global spectacle.

Veneto Governor Luca Zaia said the wedding could inject €20–30 million ($23–34 million) into the local economy. Reports also suggest Bezos will donate €1 million to Corila, a consortium that studies Venice’s fragile lagoon ecosystem.

Still, critics argue that symbolic gestures fall short of addressing Venice’s deeper struggles, including rising costs of living, reduced public services, and unsustainable levels of tourism.

Earlier in June, anti-Bezos banners were seen hanging from St. Mark’s bell tower and the Rialto Bridge, signaling growing unease among locals over the city’s increasing commercialization.