Protesters smash windows, set Tesla ablaze in G7 march
Protesters set fire to a Tesla and smashed the windows of a bank in Geneva to vent their anger at the Group of Seven summit, which will take place just across the border in France.
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, which will be held in Evian-les-Bains on the shores of Lake Geneva on June 15-17, will bring together the leaders of France, England, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the USA, as well as the European Union.
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 reach a framework peace agreement with Iran.
In Geneva, businesses were closed due to concerns of violence and hundreds of riot police were deployed on the streets.
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 prevent them from coming 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.
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