GENEVA — A demonstration in Geneva, Switzerland turned partially violent Sunday when protesters set a Tesla on fire and smashed the windows of a bank, expressing outrage ahead of an upcoming Group of Seven summit scheduled just over the border in France.
Despite those incidents, police described the overall march as largely peaceful. Authorities estimated attendance at up to 7,000 people and said they confiscated a number of knives and pyrotechnic devices from those in the crowd.
Demonstrators said their target was the G7 as a symbol of concentrated wealth and political power. The protest came shortly after Tesla owner Elon Musk, who has served as an advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, became the world’s first trillionaire — a milestone that many say has intensified public concern over growing inequality.
Protester Pippa Saugy explained her motivation for attending: “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.”
The G7 summit is scheduled for June 15 through 17 in Evian-les-Bains, a town situated along the shore of Lake Geneva. It will bring together the leaders of France, Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States, as well as the European Union.
The agenda is expected to be dominated by the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. World leaders will also be navigating their relationship with President Trump as he works toward finalizing a framework peace agreement with Iran.
Back in Geneva, storefronts were boarded up and hundreds of riot officers were positioned throughout the city in anticipation of potential unrest. Protests at G7 summits are nothing new — demonstrators have long used these gatherings as a platform to speak out against capitalism, globalization, climate change, and economic inequality.
One demonstrator, Mattia Piccard, expressed frustration at the heavy law enforcement presence on the streets. “This is an attempt to frighten demonstrators, to frighten people and discourage them from coming out to protest,” Piccard said.
Another participant, Clélia Colin, said she was there to draw attention to gender inequality. “The values represented by the G7 are completely misogynistic, and they contribute to inequality because there is absolutely no equality,” Colin said.
