Protesters set car ablaze, smash UN office windows in Geneva

Tear gas filled Geneva's streets on Sunday as police confronted protesters who set a Tesla car on fire and damaged windows at a United Nations agency. The demonstration, held across the border from the Group of Seven summit in France, saw around 20,000 people initially marching peacefully before a segment turned confrontational.

Protesters targeted symbols they identified with capitalism and multilateralism, including the parked Tesla and the UN office. Witnesses reported demonstrators ripping bricks from the ground to throw at police, while the use of tear gas caused distress among attendees, including children.

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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.

Protests have become a common feature of G7 gatherings, with demonstrators frequently using the events to voice opposition to capitalism, globalization, climate change, and inequality. This year, demonstrators specifically cited the G7 as a symbol of concentrated political and economic power. The recent achievement of Tesla owner Elon Musk becoming the world's first trillionaire was also noted by demonstrators.

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This is an attempt to frighten demonstrators, to frighten people and discourage them from coming out to protest.

"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," said protestor Pippa Saugy, reflecting a common sentiment among the demonstrators. The G7 summit, taking place in Evian-les-Bains from June 15-17, brings together leaders from France, Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States, along with the European Union.

Security was heightened in Geneva, with businesses boarded up and hundreds of riot police deployed due to prior concerns about potential violence. Demonstrator Mattia Piccard criticized the heavy police presence, calling it "an attempt to frighten demonstrators, to frighten people and discourage them from coming out to protest." Another demonstrator, Clélia Colin, aimed to highlight gender inequality, stating, "The values represented by the G7 are completely misogynistic, and they contribute to inequality."

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The values represented by the G7 are completely misogynistic, and they contribute to inequality.