Eat the cake or eat the rich? Hundreds march in Venice against Bezos-Sanchez wedding; fiery slogans echo through historic city

Over 500 people marched through the streets of Venice to protest the wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and journalist Lauren Sanchez. The protesters said the three-day celebration was a symbol of unchecked wealth trampling over a fragile and overcrowded city.(Image credits: AP)

Carrying signs that read “Eat the Rich,” “Bezos, Out of the Lagoon,” and “No Place for Bezos,” the demonstrators walked peacefully through the city, chanting slogans and calling out the city’s mayor for allowing the wedding to take place. (Image credits: AP)

The protest was organised by a group called “No Place for Bezos,” which had been rallying for days against the couple’s presence and the implications of their celebration. The group said the wedding showed how the rich use Venice for fun while locals face high housing costs, too many tourists, and climate problems like flooding. (Image credits: AP)

The wedding was held Friday on the private island of San Giorgio. Around 200 guests, including celebrities and business leaders, attended. Details were kept secret until Lauren Sanchez posted a photo online of the couple smiling in wedding clothes. (Image credits: PTI)

As the couple prepared for a wedding after party, protesters filled the streets again. Some carried signs that said “Kisses Yes, Bezos No” and “No Bezos, No War.” Demonstrators claimed their activism had successfully pressured organizers to relocate the event’s venue from a central location to the Arsenale. (Image credits: AP)

Jeff Bezos donated one million euros to three environmental groups in Venice. But many protesters said it was just a way to calm people down and didn’t solve any real problems.“It’s greenwashing,” said one protester, adding that such donations pale in comparison to the damage wrought by excessive tourism and economic inequality. (Image credits: AP)

City leaders defended the wedding, saying Venice has always welcomed important guests, citing the city’s long tradition of welcoming figures of global stature, from popes to emperors. They rejected the notion that the event had caused harm or disruption. (Image credits: AP)

Yet for many residents, the lavish wedding served as a stark reminder of how Venice is increasingly being shaped by the interests of the wealthy, often at the expense of those who call it home. "Venice is not a playground for billionaires—it’s our home," said a protestor. (Image credits: AP)