Demonstrators set fire to a Tesla, smash windows at UN office during anti-G7 protest
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Protesters on Sunday broke the windows of a United Nations agency in Geneva, set fire to a Tesla vehicle and prompted police to fire tear gas as they marched against the Group of Seven summit, which was set to begin at the French border.
About 20,000 people gathered for an initially peaceful march, before some protesters vandalized what they described as symbols of capitalism and multilateralism, including a parked Tesla and a UN agency.
Protesters picked up bricks and threw them at police as tear gas was fired into the streets of Geneva, witnesses told Reuters.
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A Tesla car burns during a protest in Évian-les-Bains, France, against the upcoming G7 summit in Geneva, Switzerland, June 14, 2026. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse)
There have been protests at G7 meetings before over the years; many demonstrators were using the summits to raise their voices against capitalism, globalization, climate change and inequality.
In the latest protest, demonstrators said they were marching against the G7 as a symbol of concentrated political and economic power.
This comes after Tesla owner Elon Musk became the world’s first trillionaire last week.
“To me, this is a meeting of the rich that shows once again how the rich can get even richer while the poor are left behind,” protester Pippa Saugy told Reuters. he said.
People hold a protest against the upcoming G7 summit to be held in Évian-les-Bains, France, Geneva, Switzerland, on June 14, 2026. (REUTERS/Ümit Bektaş)
Leaders of the “European Union” as well as France, England, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the USA will attend the G7 summit, which is planned to be held in Évian-les-Bains on the shores of Lake Geneva from Monday to Wednesday.
Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are expected to dominate the agenda. Leaders will try to avoid a possible conflict with US President Donald Trump after announcing an interim deal aimed at ending the US and Israel’s war against Iran.
Businesses in Geneva were closed and hundreds of riot police were deployed on the streets due to concerns of violence.
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People take part in a protest against the upcoming G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 14, 2026. (REUTERS/Ümit Bektaş)
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“This is an attempt to intimidate demonstrators, scare people and deter them from going out to protest,” Mattia Piccard, one of the protesters, told Reuters. he said.
Another demonstrator said she wanted to raise the issue of gender inequality during the march against the G7.
“The values that the G7 represent are completely misogynistic and contribute to inequality,” Clélia Colin told the press. he said.
Reuters contributed to this report.
