Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos are preparing for a glamorous summer wedding, but not everyone is thrilled about the upcoming event. The long-engaged couple has chosen Venice as the venue for the ceremony — a choice that has already sparked discontent among local residents. The reason: the expected extravagance, the blocking of city spaces, and the feeling that ultra-rich guests are invading one of the most crowded tourist cities in the world.

In recent days, numerous posters and banners have appeared throughout Venice, and activists are already organizing marches and demonstrations against the wedding. One of the most active voices in the protest is the group Morion Laboratorio Occupato, which has posted footage on Instagram, including a video of Venetians hanging a banner on the bell tower of San Giorgio Maggiore island, The Sun reported.

“We hung a huge banner on the tower of San Giorgio to show Bezos and his entourage that he is not welcome — neither here nor anywhere else. Let's organize his ‘celebration’ in such a way that he understands that we are not here to pick up crumbs from the table of billionaires!” the group's post reads.

Local residents are already protesting against the three-day ceremony, which they say will disrupt the normal rhythm of life in the city. The wedding coincides with the peak tourist season, when Venice and other European cities face overcrowding, pollution, and restricted access to public spaces.

Protesters are also opposed to rumors of a temporary “takeover” of the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, the hiring of luxury hotels and water taxis that will remain inaccessible to locals during the peak season.

A protest is being organized for June 13, just days before the wedding, which is planned for the weekend of June 24. The guest list includes Kim Kardashian, Eva Longoria, Katy Perry, and other celebrities.

In another publication, the protesters state:

“From security laws to the right to work and housing, to the refusal to accept that an entire city can be closed off and turned into a backdrop for the wedding of one of the richest, most influential, and most dangerous people on the planet. There is no place in this city for oligarchs, private parties, and dirty money.” | BGNES