And for the tabloids, there’s Amazon founder and one of the world’s richest dudes Jeff Bezos getting married this week in Venice. This decision has led to an outcry from local activists opposed to his presence in the city. The wedding celebrations began on Thursday evening. Close out the week with a celebration unlike any other, our spectacular closing party is being held in the historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia. Residents and activists are right to be outraged at the celebration of this milestone. Their growing frustration has turned into a protest movement known as “No Space for Bezos.”
Local activist Heather Jane Johnson told the Seattle PI that she was disappointed to hear about Bezos’ future intentions. “I felt worse than I had in my entire life,” Johnson stated. Her sentiment encapsulates the growing anger bubble up at Venetians. They have all become radicalized by the sheer scale of Bezos’ wealth and influence, particularly with respect to Amazon’s devastating effects on local businesses.
Our “No Space for Bezos” campaign is spreading like wildfire. So they convened a public meeting in Venice to express their opposition to the billionaire’s wedding. Like many of his other activists, they claim that Bezos’ wealth is a prime example of this increasing inequality between the rich and everybody else. Marta Sottoriva, 34, a secondary school teacher and militant member of the new protest group, stressed that as their initiative, it is more than a cohort, but rather, a space to have the difficult conversations around wealth inequality.
“We really wanted to problematise the ridiculous and obscene wealth that allows a man to rent a city for three days.” – Marta Sottoriva
Besides worries over growing wealth inequality, the climate crisis moved front and center. Climate change activists have protested against Bezos vocally. They are worried too, for Amazon’s bad business practices have harmed the livelihood of small retailers from the North to the South of Italy. One protester named Oliver stated, “Bezos can pay, he can stay, but thousands of shops in Italy have closed because of Amazon. So I don’t think he is welcome.”
The mood of the protests escalated dramatically as activists unfurled a massive banner. It involved Bezos’ name crossed out in red, suspended from the famed campanile of the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica. This consequential move is intended to be a clarion call in the face of what are seen as runaway acts of wealth and privilege.
On the eve of Bezos’ wedding, activists delivered a shipment of hell. Specifically, they wanted to prevent access to the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, an important site for their cause. Federica Toninello, another member of “No Space for Bezos,” characterized their actions as a tangible expression of opposition.
“We are using our bodies to say: ‘Stop. No more. We don’t want this.’” – Federica Toninello
The political dynamics around Bezos have changed drastically over the past several years. Once an eager funder of Democratic candidates, the billionaire has gone beyond vocal opposition to actively supporting Republican party leaders, including Donald Trump. This relocation continues to distance him from many leftist Venetians who see his wedding as a celebration of deeper social inequities.
Protests continued to escalate, both in size and fervor. Professor Robin Piazzo, a political scientist at Turin University, noted the current worldwide wave of anti-wealth/populist movements. He explained that these types of protests are being seen more and more as people’s feelings about income inequality increase.
“How much disruption can ‘No Space for Bezos’ cause? What kind of numbers will they get? What conversations will they start?” – Article discussing potential impact
The news has received a mixed response from local elected leaders. Luigi Brugnaro, mayor of Venice, was met with angry protesters when he came under fire on an inspection tour to the region.
“You should be ashamed!” – Activists addressing Luigi Brugnaro
Michael Jordan’s yacht, docked in Venice, CA, as the backdrop for the celebration to come. Her high-profile wedding wasn’t just a personal celebration, though it quickly became a spotlight on larger social issues. Bezos be protested These protests against Bezos represent a new, widespread social movement rising up against economic inequality and corporate dominance.