Five Pro-Palestine activists were arrested Thursday, including at least three veterans, outside MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.
As part of a protest organized by Florida chapters of Veterans for Peace and Vets Against The Machine, activists sat in the street blocking the entrance to MacDill, home of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Two cars were unable to enter the base.
The group called for the military to stop sending weapons and munitions to Israel, claiming MacDill violates several laws, including the Arms Export Control Act, the U.S. War Crimes Act and the Genocide Implementation Prevention Act.
Those arrested included Marine Corps veteran Taylor Llamas and Joy Metzler—who recently left the Air Force and joined other veterans in a hunger strike for Gaza. Navy vet Marialana Kinter— also a Democratic challenger for Republican Cory Mills’ District 7 congressional seat—was arrested as well.
While handcuffed, waiting to be taken into a police vehicle, Kinter told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that she was protesting “the military and our government funding foreign wars that do nothing to keep Americans safe.”
“We spend billions on missiles and fighter jets for other countries, but we have homeless veterans and starving children in our nation,” Kinter continued. “I’m prepared to be arrested now and in the future. What we’re doing matters and we have to take a stand.”
As they were arrested, the group chanted “Stop bombing babies” and “Free, free Gaza.”
Organizer Ramon Pereira Bonilla told CL the arrests were planned. “We want people to feel the pain and guilt we all feel as taxpayers being complicit in this genocide,” Bonilla added.
The group also wanted to signal to military members at MacDill Air Foce base and everywhere that “they are not just objects or passive actors, and they can leave at anytime,” they said.
“It’s never too late to turn away, it is never too late to give up your arms and fight for the people,” Bonilla continued. “A real enemy is not someone on the left or the right, but the top 1% who keep us pitted against each other.”
Pam Meyers and Sierra Sizemore were also arrested, though they are not directly affiliated with the veterans groups.
Thursday was the end of the UN’s 12-month deadline for Israel to end its occupation in Gaza.
This article appears in Sept. 18-24, 2025.