Protests are being prepared in Venice over the visit of the American ambassador on a 117-meter superyacht
Kyiv • UNN
Activists in Venice are planning actions against the visit of US Ambassador Tilman Fertitta, who will arrive on the 117-meter superyacht Boardwalk. Protesters intend to disrupt his tour, just as they disrupted Jeff Bezos's wedding last year.
Activists in Venice are preparing protest actions against the visit of the US Ambassador to Italy, Tilman Fertitta, who plans to arrive in the city on his 117-meter superyacht. Protesters say they intend to repeat last year's campaign that disrupted part of the wedding celebrations of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. This is reported by The Guardian, according to UNN.
Details
According to the publication, American billionaire and US Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta plans to visit Venice on July 17 as part of his tour along the Italian coast dedicated to the 250th anniversary of US independence. The tour is called "Coastal Diplomacy 250."
Local activists fear that his six-deck superyacht Boardwalk, estimated to be worth about $450 million, will dock in the historic center of Venice during the traditional Festa del Redentore holiday.
We ruined Jeff Bezos's wedding party last year – this year we will ruin the ambassador's tour
Activists emphasize that the Redentore holiday is one of the few events that still remains a celebration for the residents of Venice themselves, and they oppose the use of the city's historic center to display luxury.
Allowing this yacht to enter Venice would be a slap in the face for its residents. In a city where people face a housing crisis and unstable jobs, billionaires act as if they can do whatever they want. This demonstrates the arrogance of big money
During the discussion of the protests, participants also expressed concerns about security issues, suggesting that the police would be forced to focus their main resources on protecting the American diplomat and his yacht.
For the protest action, the organizers chose the slogan "Venezia non si USA" ("Don't use Venice"), emphasizing that their discontent is related not only to the arrival of the billionaire but also to his role in the administration of US President Donald Trump.