Ray McGovern, a retired CIA agent turned peace activist, was arrested by the New York Police Department before McGovern could attend a speech by David Petraeus. Witnesses say McGovern was “yelling in pain” as he was being detained.
Former CIA director David Petraeus, retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel John Nagl, and author Max Boot were slated to give a speech on American Foreign Policy at the 92nd Street Y on the Upper East Side in New York. The anti-war group “The World Can’t Wait” said McGovern was arrested “at protest of speech.”
Allegedly, McGovern was kept out of the speech by security, charged with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, and will be arraigned Friday. “The World Can’t Wait” claimed McGovern was “brutalized” by the NYPD and reported that screams could be heard later coming from the room where he was being held.
Catt Waters, and independent film journalist was set to film McGovern during the speech as he asked a question of Petraeus, but when she arrived she spotted McGovern being detained by police. Watters said “McGovern has a shoulder injury and was apparently yelling in pain during the arrest.”
Watters said two members of “The World Can’t Wait” were going to hang a banner from the balcony where the speech was being held. The banner would have read “War Criminal Iraq Afghanistan,” and would be covered with red handprints. McGovern was not supposed to participate in this part of the protest.
Ray McGovern worked for the CIA for approximately three decades, retiring from the agency in 1990. He was critical of George W. Bush and his use of intelligence in the lead up to the Iraq War. In 2006, McGovern returned his Intelligence Commendation Medal in protest against the CIA’s involvement in torture.
[photo credit: @mjb]