Venice Biennale Protests Target US Ambassador Amid Wealth Display

Two months into the ongoing 61st Venice Biennale, tensions have been rising, sparking public protests. On July 17, a large group of demonstrators, including members of the Art Not Genocide Alliance, assembled in Campo San Zaccaria to protest the visit of US ambassador Tilman Fertitta. This visit was tied to a coastal diplomacy effort marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. Protesters carried signs like “Venezia non si USA,” meaning “Venice is not for the US,” along with slogans like “Fertitta must go” and “Make America go away.” As the crowd approached a luxury superyacht, clashes broke out with riot police, highlighting broader issues of wealth and political influence in Venice's art community amid concerns over overtourism and cultural commercialization.