Protesters in Geneva clash with police ahead of the G7 summit in nearby France

Riot police in Geneva deployed tear gas and water cannons Sunday to disperse protesters clashing with officers during a demonstration against the G7 summit, which begins Monday in Evian-les-Bains, France. The protest drew an estimated 20,000 people, including 600 Black Bloc militants, with incidents including a Tesla set ablaze, smashed bank windows, and stone-throwing toward officers in riot gear. The demonstration, organized by diverse activist groups, featured environmentalists, women’s rights advocates, Palestinian supporters, and anti-capitalist protesters. While the majority marched peacefully—holding signs against patriarchy and inequality—some masked youths targeted police, tore down barriers, and hurled debris. Police ordered dispersals but clashes persisted into the evening. Swiss and French authorities have deployed thousands of officers to secure the three-day summit, where leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump will discuss wars in Ukraine and Iran, economic inequality, and critical mineral access. Geneva’s downtown businesses boarded up storefronts in anticipation of unrest, with only seven of 35 border crossings remaining open. Protests began Friday with 20 arrests, followed by a flotilla of anti-G7 and pro-Palestinian boats on Lake Geneva Saturday. Local resident Robin Hedz criticized the city’s preparations, noting the damage from similar unrest during the 2003 summit in Evian. Geneva police spokesman Alexandre Brahier reported the protest was otherwise peaceful, with organizers providing a handbook on security perimeters and legal advice for detained demonstrators.