Downtown Geneva boards up as drastic security tightens ahead of anti-G7 protests

GENEVA (AP) — Scores of shops and businesses in downtown Geneva boarded up their storefronts with wooden panels ahead of planned anti-G7 protests on Sunday.

French and Swiss authorities have imposed extensive security measures as U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders attend a G7 summit of leading industrialized nations starting on Monday. There are concerns the gathering could trigger violent unrest.

The June 15-17 summit of some of the world’s richest nations being held in the French town of Evian-les-Bains, on Lake Geneva, is meant to discuss the Middle East, Ukraine and global economic imbalances. Activist groups including environmentalists, feminists and foes of capitalism have called for a big demonstration later Sunday.

A flotilla of around 20 boats appeared on Lake Geneva off the coast of Evian on Saturday, displaying anti-G7 and pro-Palestinian banners. Some 20 protesters were detained on Friday evening, according to Swiss media reports.

Earlier, between 100 and 150 people had gathered in Geneva for a protest bicycle ride, slowing down traffic and chanting anti-G7 and pro-Palestinian slogans, public broadcaster RTS reported.

Business owners and local leaders are worried of a repeat of violent protests that smashed storefronts on the sidelines of the G8 summit in 2003, when Russia was in the club of nations.

Local resident Robin Hedz lamented the “mess” and expressed bafflement about the “wood-wall everywhere,” while acknowledging the memories of the trail of damaged property at the summit over a generation ago.

The Swiss government said the army will deploy some 4,000 personnel to support police during the summit. Operations will include airspace and road restrictions as well as patrols on Lake Geneva. Seven of the 35 roadway border crossings will remain open. Geneva also is closing a major park where activists wanted to congregate.

France will deploy more than 13,000 police and gendarmerie officers to ensure security in the summit area just across the border. Over 800 French border control officers will be active, up from about 60 normally.

French gendarmes buzzed around in motorboats off the coast of Evian on Saturday, and one officer hoisted up a bulky drone-interception device in a display of the security measures being rolled out for the summit.

Protests are nothing new around such elite gatherings. This time, activists want to demonstrate frustration with Trump’s leadership on issues as diverse as tariffs, the war in Iran and the climate, or even highlight his past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“We are very afraid of the policy and the politics of Mr. Trump and also of the other leaders of the G7, because they are fighting, making war all over the place," said Francoise Nyffeler, spokesperson for the NoG7 coalition, which has organized the demonstration and march on Sunday.

"The planet is in danger and we are very scared about it and we want to protest and say that the people of the world are against their policies,” she added.

A man rides his bicycle in front of a mural, ahead of expected protests for the G7 summit, in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

French police officers check cars crossing the border between Geneva and the French town of Gaillard, France, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, ahead of the upcoming G7 summit due to take place June 15-17 in the town of Evian-les-Bains. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

Pedestrians walk past the boarded-up windows of a shop, ahead of expected protests for the G7 summit, in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

French military boats patrol Lake Geneva in Evian-les-Bains, eastern France, Thursday, June 11, 2026, ahead of the G7 summit scheduled to take place June 15-17. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

Construction workers board up a shop window, ahead of expected protests for the G7 summit, in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — As Devin Vassell reflected on what could have been for the San Antonio Spurs, reality loudly interrupted his thoughts.

The sounds of the New York Knicks and their fans celebrating the team's first NBA championship since 1973 spilled into the recesses of the Frost Bank Center, drowning out Vassell's postgame interview.

“Our goal was to win, obviously," Vassell said. "We don’t want a participation trophy to where we just got here; we wanted to win.”

New York point guard Jalen Brunson stymied that dream, scoring 45 points to lead New York to a 94-90 victory on Saturday night as the Knicks clinched the series 4-1.

The Spurs built double-digit leads in the first quarter of every game of the finals, but the Knicks rallied to win all but Game 3.

That San Antonio was even in the conversation was surprising to most.

“Shout out to the Spurs, they are the real deal,” New York center Karl-Anthony Towns said.

The Spurs exceeded preseason expectations by toppling 2024-25 champion Oklahoma City to win the Western Conference with a youthful roster led by 22-year-old superstar Victor Wembanyama.

San Antonio won 62 games to tie for the second-most victories in franchise history just two seasons after a second straight 22-win season.

There was much for the Spurs to celebrate this season, just not on Saturday night.

"Yeah, it’s a little early to go there," San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said.

The Spurs were seeking their sixth league championship and first since 2014 after missing the postseason for six straight seasons.

The lack of postseason success hurt San Antonio in the closing minutes of each loss as New York took advantage of every mistake to rally.

“The margin of error is very thin,” Wembanyama said. “Our domination stats are absolute. We absolutely dominated for most of the series. But our errors, our mistakes, are punished so hard that we can’t have ups and downs like this.”

Along with Wembanyama, the Spurs have 21-year-old Stephon Castle and 20-year-old Dylan Harper to build around and now they have the anger and frustration of what might have been to add to it.

“I hope they take the same thing that we’ve taken from our success,” Johnson said. “I hope it leads to them be hungrier than they’ve ever been, and I hope it leads them to be more motivated than they’ve ever been, and hopefully that leads them to be more — yeah, just to continue to improve in every facet."

__

This story has been updated to correct that Oklahoma City won the NBA title in the 2024-25 season, not in 2024.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson yells during the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the New York Knicks, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell drives as New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) defends during the second half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Saturday, June 13, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)