Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been temporarily banned from the Italian city of Venice.
Supporters of the protest have defended the action as symbolic and peaceful.
Extinction Rebellion said the goal was to draw urgent attention to what they described as “the massive effects of climate collapse,” and to protest what they see as inadequate fossil-fuel restrictions in the COP30 agreement.
They argue that conventional protests have not succeeded in pushing governments toward radical climate mitigation, and that dramatic visual acts are necessary to awaken public and political will.
But for many in Venice, residents, officials, and some visitors alike, the protest crossed a line.
They said the canals are part of a centuries-old patrimony that should not be treated as a stage for provocative political theatre.
The incident has left lingering damage: not just to the city’s sense of sanctity, but to the concept of protest itself.
The ban and fines serve as a stark warning that authorities in heritage cities may increasingly invoke administrative measures to discourage acts they deem disruptive or harmful.
For Thunberg, the punishment may be brief — but the symbolic clash is unmistakable.
At a time when climate activism is shifting from marches and speeches to shocking street theatre, Venice has drawn a line.
The protest involved the pouring of a fluorescent tracer dye.
Described by the group as non-toxic and commonly used in environmental studies it was poured into Venice’s canals.
Activists, dressed in red veils, also unfurled a banner reading “Stop Ecocide” from the landmark Rialto Bridge and drifted through crowds of startled tourists.
Similar green-dye actions reportedly took place in nine other Italian cities.
Crew’s thoughts on-board unraveled.
In response, municipal and regional officials moved quickly. Ms Thunberg and around 35 other participants were slapped with fines.
They were reportedly roughly €150 each, and issued a 48-hour exclusion order barring them from entering or remaining in Venice.
The governor of the Veneto region, Luca Zaia, condemned the stunt.
“A disrespectful act towards our city, its history and its fragility.”
He argued such public spectacles risk damaging the city’s delicate environment and cultural heritage.
Greta Thunberg first rose to global prominence in 2018, when at 15 years old she began skipping school on Fridays to protest outside the Swedish parliament, holding a handwritten sign reading “School Strike for Climate.”
What began as a solitary demonstration rapidly grew into an international movement known as Fridays for Future, inspiring millions of young people across continents to demand stronger action on climate change.
Her speeches, often uncompromising and emotionally charged, became defining moments at global forums.
At the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit she delivered her now-famous “How dare you” rebuke, accusing world leaders of failing younger generations.
Over the years, Thunberg has travelled extensively, often avoiding air travel to highlight emissions, including crossing the Atlantic by racing yacht to address US lawmakers. She has been nominated multiple times for the Nobel Peace Prize and has addressed parliaments, scientific bodies and international summits.