A large banner bearing the name of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos with a red cross struck through it could be seen hanging on a bell tower overlooking Venice’s lagoon, placed there in protest against his planned wedding in late June, French news agency AFP reports.
The 61-year-old American billionaire and his fiancée, journalist Lauren Sanchez, are set to celebrate their wedding with numerous VIP guests in Venice from 24 to 26 June.
A group by the name of ‘No Space for Bezos’ posted the banner. “He is not welcome in Venice or anywhere else!” it shared on Facebook.
The banner, removed on Thursday, was accompanied by posters and stickers calling for a protest against the event.
In 2014, the city hosted the wedding of Hollywood actor George Clooney and lawyer Amal Alamuddin.
“Venice is a living city, not a venue for rent at the highest price.” the group posted on social media.
Contrasting this view, Mayor Luigi Brugnaro welcomed the couple’s decision to wed in Venice, telling the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera in March that the economic benefits of the wedding would amount to millions of dollars.
City authorities assure that the event will host only 200 guests, and promise “no disruption” for Venice.
However, Italian media have reported reservations at five hotels and a remarkable fleet of water taxis and moorings for Mr. Bezos’s mega-yacht.
Opponents criticise the event for further privatising parts of a city already struggling with mass tourism, which authorities are finding it challenging to control.
