Thousands gather in Geneva to protest G7 as Trump, other leaders hold summit near France
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Thousands of protesters gathered on Sunday to show their displeasure against the G7 group of countries, where US President Donald Trump and his colleagues will hold a summit starting the next day in nearby France.
Environmentalists and feminists joined enemies of imperialism, defenders of independent media, supporters of Palestinian rights and others at a lakeside park in Geneva to march across the city. A boat whose sail reads “No G7” was floating, as sunbathers and swimmers floated under the blue sky.
Swiss and French authorities have deployed thousands of police to provide security for the three-day conference that begins Monday in the French town of Évian-les-Bains. The leaders will discuss issues including the Middle East, Ukraine and global economic inequality.
Authorities blocked roads, banned unauthorized gatherings and pledged to financially support businesses that may be hit by the unrest. Dozens of businesses and shops have boarded up their shop fronts with wooden panels as a precautionary measure – an echo of the chaos that left a trail of damage in Geneva during the same conference in Évian in 2003. Only seven of the 35 cross-border roads will remain open.
Protesters gathered days before Sunday's march in Geneva, the region's largest city and a designated rallying point for anti-G7 activists.
A flotilla of about 20 boats appeared in Lake Geneva off the coast of Évian on Saturday, displaying anti-G7 and pro-Palestine banners. Another 20 protesters were arrested on Friday evening, according to Swiss media reports.
Earlier, between 100 and 150 people had gathered in Geneva to ride bicycles, slowing down traffic, public broadcaster RTS reported.
Local resident Robin Hedz lamented the “chaos” and expressed dismay at the “wall of wood everywhere,” while recalling the trail of damaged property at the summit 20 years ago.
France will send more than 13,000 police and gendarmerie officers to ensure security at the conference site across the border. More than 800 French border control officers will be on duty, up from around 60 normally.
French soldiers patrolled in motorized boats off the coast of Évian on Saturday, and an official held up a large anti-aircraft missile to demonstrate security measures introduced at the conference.
Protests are not new around such elite gatherings. In this case, activists want to show frustration with Trump's leadership on various issues such as taxes, the Iran war and the climate, or highlight his previous relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“We are very afraid of the policy and politics of Mr. Trump and other G7 leaders, because they are fighting, they are making war everywhere,” said Françoise Nyffeler, spokeswoman for the NoG7 coalition, which has planned a protest and march on Sunday.
“The planet is in danger and we are very afraid and we want to protest saying that the people of the world are against their goals.”
