Protesters smash windows, set Tesla ablaze in G7 march

Expressing their anger at the Group of Seven summit to be held just across the border in France, protesters set fire to a Tesla and broke the windows of a bank in Geneva.

The march was largely peaceful, with up to 7,000 people participating, according to police, who said some knives and pyrotechnic devices were seized.

Demonstrators said they came to protest the G7, a symbol of concentrated political and economic power.

Last week, Tesla owner Elon Musk, who is an advisor to US President Donald Trump, became the world’s first trillionaire, reigniting concerns about inequality.

“To me, this is a meeting of the rich that shows once again how the rich can get richer while the poor are left behind,” said Pippa Saugy, one of the protesters.

The G7 summit, to be held in Evian-les-Bains on the shores of Lake Geneva between 15 and 17 June, will bring together leaders of the European Union, as well as France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

As wars in the Middle East and Ukraine prepare to dominate the agenda, leaders will try to avoid conflict with Trump, who is trying to sign a framework peace agreement with Iran.

Businesses in Geneva were closed and hundreds of riot police were deployed on the streets due to concerns of violence.

Protests have become common at G7 meetings over the years; many demonstrators used the summits to denounce capitalism, globalization, climate change and inequality.

Mattia Piccard was angered by the strong police presence.

“This is an attempt to intimidate demonstrators, to intimidate people and to deter them from going out to protest,” Piccard said.

Another demonstrator, Clélia Colin, said she wanted to raise the issue of gender inequality.

“The values ​​that the G7 represent are completely misogynistic and they contribute to inequality because there is absolutely no equality,” Colin said.