On Sunday, demonstrators in Geneva ignited a Tesla vehicle and vandalized windows at a United Nations office in protest of the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit scheduled to begin across the border in France. The unrest prompted police to respond with tear gas.
A crowd of approximately 20,000 initially gathered for a peaceful protest. However, a faction of the group later targeted what they perceived as symbols of capitalism and multilateralism, leading to the destruction of the parked Tesla and damage to the UN premises.
According to eyewitnesses cited by Reuters, protesters hurled bricks at law enforcement officials, who then deployed tear gas to manage the situation in the streets of Geneva.
Images capture a Tesla engulfed in flames during an anti-G7 summit demonstration in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 14, 2026. (Credit: REUTERS/Denis Balibouse)
Protests at G7 meetings have occurred repeatedly over the years, with activists frequently using these events to voice discontent over capitalism, globalization, climate change, and social inequality.
Demonstrators in the latest protest said they were marching against the G7 as a symbol of concentrated political and economic power.
This comes after Tesla owner Elon Musk became the world’s first trillionaire last week.
“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,” protestor Pippa Saugy told Reuters.
People hold a protest against the upcoming G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains in France, in Geneva, Switzerland, June 14, 2026. (REUTERS/Umit Bektas)
The G7 summit, scheduled to take place from Monday to Wednesday in Évian-les-Bains, on the shore of Lake Geneva, will feature the leaders of France, Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.S., as well as the ‌European Union.
The conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are expected to dominate the agenda. Leaders will likely attempt to avoid a clash with U.S. President Donald Trump after he announced a tentative agreement aimed at ending the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran.
Businesses in Geneva were boarded up and hundreds of riot police were deployed in the streets over concerns about violence.
People attend a protest against the upcoming G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains in France, in Geneva, Switzerland, June 14, 2026. (REUTERS/Umit Bektas)
“This is an attempt to frighten demonstrators, to frighten people and discourage them from coming out to protest,” protester Mattia Piccard told Reuters.
Another demonstrator said she wanted to raise the issue of gender inequality during the march against the G7.
“The values represented by the G7 are completely misogynistic, and they contribute to inequality,” Clélia Colin told the outlet.
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