G7 Summit in Évian: Anti-Globalization Protests Rock Geneva

Tens of thousands of anti-globalization activists from the ‘No-G7’ coalition stormed the streets of Geneva on Sunday, clashing with police on the eve of the G7 summit in nearby Évian, France. The demonstration, which began peacefully at Parc Mon Repos in the early afternoon, descended into violence as masked protesters set a Tesla on fire, smashed bank windows, and targeted buildings belonging to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), according to RTBF.

Context: Why Geneva, Not Évian?

French authorities declined to issue permits for demonstrations near the summit venue in Évian, forcing organizers to relocate the protest to neighboring Geneva, approximately 50 kilometers away. Swiss authorities authorized the march but imposed strict conditions on the route. The decision echoed the legacy of the 2003 G8 summit, also held in Évian, which saw devastating riots in Geneva and Lausanne that caused millions of francs in damages — a trauma that continues to shape Swiss security planning for international summits.

The No-G7 Coalition and the Feminist Strike

The No-G7 coalition, a broad alliance of approximately 60 organizations representing feminist, anti-capitalist, pro-Palestinian, Kurdish, environmental, and trade union movements, deliberately chose June 14 for the protest. The date coincides with the Swiss feminist strike (grève féministe), an annual day of mobilization against wage inequality and sexist violence, allowing the coalition to frame their action as an “internationalist riposte” to G7 policies. As Deutsche Welle reported, the coalition criticized the G7 as a symbol of concentrated political and economic power, pointing to recent news of Elon Musk becoming the world’s first trillionaire as evidence of growing inequality.

Key Developments

The march departed from Parc Mon Repos in the early afternoon, led by the feminist strike bloc. Initially festive, the atmosphere shifted dramatically when the procession reached the Pâquis district. According to Blick, a Tesla with French license plates was set on fire at Place Dorcière, and windows were smashed at Banque du Léman, Raiffeisen, and UBS using hammers.

By late afternoon, tension had escalated near Cornavin station, with protesters throwing bottles, stones, and firecrackers at police. Swiss police responded with tear gas and water cannons. Reports documented that masked protesters were attempting to break into the PwC headquarters in the Nations quarter, while windows at the ITU building were also shattered.

Train service between Geneva and Lausanne was suspended for several hours as clashes continued into the evening. Police declared the demonstration unauthorized and began dispersing the crowd.

Conflicting Narratives

Crowd Size

A significant discrepancy emerged over attendance figures. Police spokesperson Alexandre Brahier confirmed approximately 20,000 participants, including about 600 “black blocs” — anarchist-affiliated militants known for confrontational tactics. The No-G7 coalition, however, claimed 60,000 people gathered. “We counted 60,000 people gathered,” said Alice Lefrançois, SIT union secretary and No-G7 coalition member, in an interview with RTS’s 19h30 news program.

Responsibility for Violence

The No-G7 coalition blamed police escalation for worsening the situation. Lefrançois denounced what she called “a completely disproportionate police repression,” arguing that “the excesses were made worse by the police” because officers fired tear gas directly into the crowd. She told RTS that police “very often created the escalation.”

Authorities and political figures, however, pointed to the infiltration of approximately 600 black blocs who came with the intent to cause destruction. Geneva cantonal police spokesperson Alexandre Brahier told RTS’s Forum program that the march was “rather festive” initially before black blocs infiltrated. Simone de Montmollin, a National Councillor from the PLR party, stated that black blocs are “not demonstrators, but disruptors.”

Security Deployment

The security operation was among the largest ever mounted for a summit in the region. Switzerland mobilized up to 4,000 military personnel in support of police, while France deployed approximately 16,000 police, gendarmes, military personnel, firefighters, and border guards around Évian. Geneva shop windows were boarded up with plywood, sporting events were cancelled, and the Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG) set up emergency tents in anticipation of casualties.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin called for calm, stating that demonstrations should “take place calmly” and that “everyone can express their opinion in the most peaceful way,” as reported by RTS. Geneva State Council President Anne Hiltpold defended the police response, saying “we must trust the police and their professionalism.”

Analysis and Implications

The protest highlights the enduring tension between global governance institutions and grassroots movements that view them as engines of inequality. Political scientist Frédéric Esposito of the Global Studies Institute in Geneva told RTS he hoped the violence would not “harm the message which is a call for peace and dialogue.”

The event may reshape Swiss protest policing strategies, particularly regarding the balance between permitting peaceful demonstrations and preventing violence by infiltrating groups. The legacy of 2003 continues to loom large over Geneva’s approach to summit-related protests.

What’s Next

The G7 summit is scheduled to run from June 15 to 17 at the Hôtel Royal in Évian, with the agenda expected to be dominated by the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are both attending. French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Évian on Sunday evening. Further protests and disruptions are anticipated through June 19 as the summit continues under unprecedented security.