Thousands of people took to the streets of Geneva on Sunday, 14 June ahead of this week's G7 summit in neighbouring France, but a largely peaceful demonstration later descended into clashes with police.
Around 20,000 protesters joined the march to voice opposition to what they described as the concentration of political and economic power in the hands of a small group of wealthy nations.
As tensions rose, some demonstrators set fire to a parked Tesla vehicle and smashed windows at a United Nations agency building. Police responded by firing teargas to disperse crowds.
Reuters witnesses said protesters tore bricks from the ground and threw them at officers, while clouds of teargas drifted through Geneva's city centre. Children were seen crying as families tried to move away from the unrest.
Many of those attending said they wanted to challenge what they see as growing inequality and the influence of powerful political and business figures.
"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," protester Pippa Saugy said.
The demonstration took place days after Tesla owner Elon Musk, who has served as an adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, became the world's first trillionaire.
Protests have long been a feature of G7 summits, with campaigners using the gatherings to raise concerns about capitalism, globalisation, climate change and social inequality.
Authorities had prepared for possible unrest before the march.
Many businesses in central Geneva boarded up their windows, while hundreds of riot police were deployed across the city.
Some protesters criticised the security operation.
"This is an attempt to frighten demonstrators, to frighten people and discourage them from coming out to protest," said Mattia Piccard.
Others used the demonstration to highlight specific social issues.
"The values represented by the G7 are completely misogynistic, and they contribute to inequality," protester Clélia Colin said.
The unrest came on the eve of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, a French town on the shores of Lake Geneva.
Leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and the United States will attend, alongside representatives of the European Union.
Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are expected to dominate discussions. Leaders are also expected to closely watch efforts by President Trump to finalise a framework peace agreement with Iran.
While the summit has yet to begin, Sunday's events in Geneva highlighted the deep frustrations felt by some protesters over the political and economic issues they believe world leaders have failed to address.
Sweden will reintroduce internal border controls for six months, citing security threats linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine, while Poland has ...
Peruvian authorities have seized more than 3,000 tarantulas hidden in socks inside the luggage of three Europeans attempting to fly to Germany, pro...
Benjamin Netanyahu’s bid to remain in power suffered two major setbacks on Thursday as Israel’s political deadlock deepened. A longstan...
Democrat wins surged on Tuesday across the United States with stunning victories in the South Carolina, Texas and Ohio senate races -- traditionally Republican strongholds -- in the 3 November midterm elections.
From international reporting and investigative documentaries to global forums and digital innovation, AnewZ marks two years of connecting Azerbaijan and the wider world.
Democrats captured majorities in both chambers of Congress on Tuesday, scoring sweeping victories that reached into Republican strongholds, with millions of voters delivering a strong rebuke to President Donald Trump.
Iran and the United States remains far from a deal to end the conflict as tensions rise over the Strait of Hormuz. Following Republican losses in U.S. midterm elections, Tehran says Americans have rejected the war, while Qatar intensifies mediation efforts to prevent renewed escalation.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has blamed the war with Iran for the Republicans' defeat in the 2026 midterm elections, arguing that voters who supported President Donald Trump in 2024 turned to the Democrats because of foreign policy and economic concerns.
Sweden will reintroduce internal border controls for six months, citing security threats linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine, while Poland has detained six people suspected of spying for Moscow and illegally supplying military components to Russia.
Peruvian authorities have seized more than 3,000 tarantulas hidden in socks inside the luggage of three Europeans attempting to fly to Germany, prompting a criminal investigation into suspected wildlife trafficking.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s bid to remain in power suffered two major setbacks on Thursday as Israel’s political deadlock deepened. A longstanding ultra-Orthodox ally refused to back him for prime minister, while an Arab-led party endorsed his main rival.
A fresh wave of hoax bomb threats disrupted air travel across Europe on Thursday, prompting flight diversions, additional security checks and emergency procedures at several airports.
A senior Chinese financial regulator has warned that a surge in artificial intelligence investment risks starving other sectors of vital funding as capital becomes increasingly concentrated in a handful of technology giants.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment