Venice Activists Threaten Blockade Against U.S. Ambassador’s Superyacht Visit
Activists are organizing protests against U.S. Ambassador Fertitta’s planned arrival in Venice on July 17, demanding that his 117-meter superyacht be barred from the historic center during the...
Activists are organizing protests against U.S. Ambassador Fertitta’s planned arrival in Venice on July 17, demanding that his 117-meter superyacht be barred from the historic center during the Redentore holiday.
Table Of Content
Diplomatic Tour Sparks Local Backlash
Ambassador Fertitta is scheduled to visit Venice on July 17 as part of a coastal voyage promoting U.S.-Italy relations and the 250th anniversary of American independence, a trip he has branded “Coastal Diplomacy 250.”
Activists are drawing parallels to last year’s protests against Jeff Bezos’s wedding. Roughly 40 people attended an organizational meeting to strategize how to disrupt the ambassador’s tour, with activist Stella Faye calling to replicate the tactics used to hinder the Amazon founder’s celebration.
Tensions During the Redentore Festival
Protesters fear Fertitta’s superyacht will dock in the historic center during Festa del Redentore, one of Venice’s most significant holidays held in the third week of July. The event, which commemorates the end of the 16th-century plague, features a temporary bridge and a major fireworks display.
Faye emphasized that Redentore remains one of the few occasions still truly belonging to the residents of Venice rather than tourists or the ultra-wealthy.
A 450 Million Dollar Controversy
The “Boardwalk,” Fertitta’s 117-meter-long, six-deck superyacht, features two helipads and two pools, with an estimated value of $450 million. Local activists, including Giulia Cacopardo, argue that allowing such a massive vessel into the city would be a slap in the face to residents.
Concerns have also been raised regarding security, with organizers fearing that police attention will be diverted to protecting the ambassador and his vessel rather than ensuring public safety during the city’s major festival.
Protest Under the Slogan “Venice Is Not Used”
The movement has adopted the slogan “Venezia non si USA,” a wordplay targeting the acronym for the United States while asserting that the city should not be used as a private backdrop for the wealthy.
Tilman Fertitta, an entertainment mogul and owner of the Houston Rockets, has a net worth estimated at $14.2 billion and was a financial supporter of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign.