In preparation for the G7 summit set to begin in Évian-les-Bains, France, on Monday, thousands of people gathered in neighboring Geneva on Sunday to protest under the motto “No G7.” The demonstrators displayed numerous signs carrying pro-feminist and anti-capitalist messages, alongside many banners calling for “Free Palestine” and waving Palestinian flags.
The protests started at the “Parc de la Perle du Lac” on Lake Geneva before marching toward the city center. Due to the scale of the turnout, the demonstration route was enclosed by extensive barriers. The police force in Geneva has deployed a significant presence for Sunday and the coming days to preempt potential disorder, similar to what occurred in 2003 during the G8 summit in Évian. Retailers in Geneva have been preparing for the demonstrations for days, with many storefronts in the city center fitted with plywood, some displaying signs such as “Small Family Business” in multiple languages, perhaps hoping to garner sympathy from potential violent protesters.
Although the G7 summit is being hosted by France, the small town of Évian, home to about 10,000 residents, has been divided into several protected zones and cordoned off entirely, with local residents issued special access passes. As a result, the protests migrated to Switzerland, mirroring the pattern of 2003. Anti-G7 events were held on Sunday across the country, not only in Geneva and Lausanne, but also in cities including Zürich, St. Gallen, Bern, Luzern, Zug, Basel, Biel, and Aarau.
