**Venice Activists Gear Up to Protest Jeff Bezos's Wedding**

As Bezos prepares for a lavish ceremony in Venice, local activists are mobilizing against his presence, calling for a shift in priorities to benefit residents over tourists.

Activists in Venice are set to make their voices heard as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos prepares to marry fiancée Lauren Sánchez next week in an extravagant ceremony that could disrupt the city. With a net worth of approximately $220.9 billion, Bezos is the world’s third richest person and his upcoming wedding has stirred significant controversy.

Scheduled between June 23rd and June 28th, the wedding will draw hundreds of high-profile guests, reportedly taking over the island of San Giorgio, adjacent to St. Mark's Square. Italian media has noted that luxury hotels and water taxis are fully booked in anticipation of the event.

Local activist Federica Toninelli, associated with the protest group No Space for Bezos, criticized the event, stating, “Venice is being treated like a showcase, a stage,” and underscored that the wedding epitomizes the city’s exploitation by wealthy outsiders. The coalition she represents consists of various groups advocating for residents' rights against the overwhelming tide of tourism.

So far, protests have included unfurling anti-Bezos banners from iconic landmarks such as the bell tower of San Giorgio Maggiore and the Rialto Bridge. Upcoming plans include jumping into canals to obstruct water traffic and blocking narrow streets to impede access for wedding guests.

Activists are calling for peaceful demonstrations aimed at sparking a conversation citywide about prioritizing residents over tourists and highlighting issues stemming from tourism’s impact on local housing—an ongoing concern with population checks showing an exodus from the historic city.

Notably, Venice’s Mayor Luigi Brugnaro expressed disdain for the protests, implying that the event brings valuable attention and income to the city. Critics like jeweler Setrak Tokatzian support the idea that such events generate work and prosperity.

While specifics of the wedding remain guarded, speculation includes a ceremony in the 10th Century Church of the Abbey of Misericordia, with a guest list potentially featuring celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry.

Amid these developments, activists are not only protesting for the sake of the wedding but are also pushing for a reassessment of Venice’s current tourism model. “We need to think about a post-tourism transition,” Toninelli articulated, advocating for a shift back to prioritizing local residents in the city’s administration and vision moving forward.

This is not the first time Venice has hosted such a high-profile event; however, past celebrations like George Clooney’s wedding in 2014 did not incite similar protests. Tourism in Venice has surged in recent years, often exceeding the small local population, which now stands at just under 49,000 compared to 175,000 in 1950.

As the countdown to Bezos's wedding continues, local efforts highlight the ongoing tension between preserving Venice's heritage and dealing with the realities of global tourism.