Protesters in Geneva vented their frustration at the Group of Seven (G7) ahead of the summit across the border by setting a Tesla on fire and smashing the windows of a local bank, authorities said. The march, according to police estimates, drew as many as 7,000 participants and for the most part unfolded without further large-scale violence.
Police reported that during the demonstration they confiscated a number of knives and pyrotechnic devices. Municipal businesses had boarded up storefronts in anticipation of unrest, and hundreds of riot police were stationed in the streets amid beforehand concerns about potential violence.
Many demonstrators said they were protesting what the G7 represents - concentrated political and economic influence held by a small group of countries. The staging of the protest followed the recent news that Tesla owner Elon Musk became the world’s first trillionaire and that he has served as an adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump - developments some attendees cited as emblematic of deepening inequality.
"To me, it’s a meeting of the rich that shows once again how the rich can become even richer while the poor are left behind," said protester Pippa Saugy.
The G7 leaders are due to meet June 15-17 in Evian-les-Bains, on the shore of Lake Geneva. The summit will bring together the leaders of France, Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, with representation from the European Union. Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine are expected to dominate the agenda, and leaders will endeavour to avoid a direct clash with U.S. President Donald Trump as he seeks to finalise a framework peace deal with Iran.
Organizers and observers noted that protests at G7 summits are a recurring phenomenon, with demonstrators frequently using such gatherings to voice opposition to capitalism, globalisation, climate change policies and systemic inequality.
Some marchers criticised the scale of the security response. "This is an attempt to frighten demonstrators, to frighten people and discourage them from coming out to protest," said Mattia Piccard of the visible police deployment.
Other participants framed their grievances around social issues. Clélia Colin, another demonstrator, said she was raising the issue of gender inequality. "The values represented by the G7 are completely misogynistic, and they contribute to inequality because there is absolutely no equality," Colin said.
Aside from the incidents of property damage and the items seized by police, the reported attendance and the presence of security forces underscored local authorities' efforts to manage dissent while preparations continued for the multinational summit nearby.