Geneva police use force as G7 protest escalates into violence
Approximately 20,000 people rallied in Geneva against the G7 summit, with parts of the protest turning violent, prompting police to deploy tear gas and water cannons.
Police in Geneva fired tear gas and used water cannon on Sunday after a largely peaceful demonstration against the G7 summit in nearby Evian, France, descended into clashes. Around 20,000 protesters took to the streets of the Swiss city to denounce the gathering of leaders from the world's richest democracies, which opens on Monday across Lake Geneva in the French spa town.
The protest was organized by the "No G7" coalition of more than 60 associations, unions, and left-wing groups. Most demonstrators marched calmly under a blazing sun, waving Palestinian flags and climate banners, chanting against capitalism and Western military alliances. Authorities had authorized a march on a route far from the luxury shops of central Geneva to avoid a repeat of the riots during the 2003 G8 summit.
Tensions spiked when groups of black-clad protesters broke away from the main march, smashing barriers, attacking upmarket apartment blocks, and setting cars on fire. A Tesla vehicle was seen burning with the slogan "Eat the Rich" sprayed on its side, while buildings near the United Nations European headquarters were damaged. Police said about 600 "Black Bloc" activists were involved in the violence.
The G7 summit—one of the first major international meetings since the US and Israel launched a war against Iran in February—is expected to be dominated by efforts to halt that conflict and by Russia's war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Evian on Sunday to host US President Donald Trump and other G7 leaders as thousands of Swiss and French security personnel were deployed around the lake region.
