Protestors Push Jeff Bezos Dummy, Clutching an Amazon Box and Fistfuls of Cash, Into Venice Canal amid Wedding Protests
On June 25, protestors placed a dummy of Bezos floating on an Amazon box raft in a Venice canal
Bezos and Sánchez have a series of events planned for their star-studded Venetian wedding celebrationJeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's Venetian wedding continues to be targeted by local protestors.
On Wednesday, June 25, protestors placed a dummy in Bezos' likeness in a Venice canal. The dummy, which clutched onto a large rectangular Amazon box and held fistfuls of cash, was dressed in a blue Amazon worker's jumpsuit.
The figure floated in the canal past gondolas and groups of tourists.
This is the latest in a series of public protests by those who don't want Bezos and his party invading Venice.
Earlier this month, a group gathered to protest the couple's wedding. Signs, posters and stickers also have gone up around Venice's historic city center reading "No Space for Bezos" and featuring a rocket image in a nod to his Blue Origin space tourism company.
Protest banners were also hung from some of the city's famed sites, including the Rialto Bridge and the iconic St. Mark's bell tower.
Nearly a dozen Venetian organizations — including housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners and university groups — have come together with the 'No Space for Bezos' message.
Borne Media, which carried out the dummy stunt, shared in a statement that the figure was perched on a remotely controlled motorized raft.
The group also posted banners around the city reading, 'IF YOU CAN RENT VENICE FOR YOUR WEDDING YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX,' featuring a large image of Bezos, which police took away.
While not everyone in Venice is rolling out the welcome mat for Bezos and Sánchez, Venetian mayor Luigi Brugnaro told The Associated Press that the city is "very proud" to host the wedding.
"It's an honor that they chose Venice. Venice once again reveals itself to be a global stage," he said, adding that he hoped to have an opportunity to meet Bezos.
In a statement to NBC News earlier this month, city hall officials addressed local concerns of widespread disruptions due to the lavish wedding festivities, reiterating that Venice is "fully accustomed to hosting high-profile events of this nature and scale."
"The celebrations, attended by 250 guests, will blend into the daily rhythm of a city that, with dignity and respect, welcomes thousands of visitors from around the world while safeguarding the quality of life for its residents, workers and students," the statement said.
Officials also said the protests "are in no way representative of the majority of citizens, who are proud that Venice has been chosen as the wedding location."
To show their appreciation to Venice, Bezos and Sánchez will spotlight the city's rich artisanal traditions at their wedding and source about 80% of the event's provisions from local vendors, including pastry shop Rosa Salva and glass studio Laguna B, a source told AP. The couple has also asked their A-list guests to make financial donations to Venice instead of giving them gifts.
Sebastiano Costalonga, local city councillor for commerce and productive activities of the municipality of Venice, told PEOPLE that the couple's no-gifts gesture sends "a very important message that should also be extended to the other people who come to get married in Venice, or to celebrate any kind of event here. We are definitely happy to have this funding for the protection of our very delicate city."
As the wedding festivities kick off, numerous celebrity guests have been spotted arriving in Venice this week. Orlando Bloom, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Tom Brady, Diane von Furstenberg and more have touched down in the Floating City.
A source previously told PEOPLE that security preparations for the Bezos-Sánchez wedding have transformed Venice into a "fortress-like operation," as approximately 20 security personnel were "stationed and in full operational move" across one of the key venues for the couple's celebrations: a closed cloister adjacent to Chiesa della Madonna dell'Orto, a Catholic church in Venice.
The nearly 200 expected guests are being kept in the dark about the details for the wedding events in light of security concerns fueled by the protests.
A source told PEOPLE that guests were given instructions regarding what time to be ready, but not information on where they would ultimately be heading for the ceremony.
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Already, one key venue has been switched due to security concerns. A source told PEOPLE that the wedding party originally planned for June 28 at Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a medieval former religious school in Cannaregio, has been moved to a new location.
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