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Sunday, July 10, 2:00 pm
Bearing Witness to the Truth...
Ray McGovern, Retired CIA Analyst
Presidents and War: Role of Intelligence

Please join us to hear Ray McGovern speak at University Center Rochester, Coffman Hall, Room 206, 859 30th Ave. S.E., Rochester, MN. Mr. McGovern's career highlights include:

Ray McGovern, a retired CIA analyst is co-founder of Veterans Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS). He writes and lectures throughout the country about US intelligence-related issues, and is an outspoken commentator on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He has the distinction of being included in Americans Who Tell the Truth, a curriculum project that teaches students American history through the lives of courageous Americans.

Ray McGovern grew up in the Bronx, graduated summa cum laude from Fordham College, holds an M.A. in Russian Studies, a Certificate in Theological Studies from Georgetown, and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

He served as an Army infantry/intelligence officer in the early 60s and then as a CIA analyst for 27 years. He prepared the President's Daily Brief for Nixon, Ford, and Reagan, and for four years conducted morning intelligence briefings one-on-one of then-Vice President Bush and Reagan's most senior advisers. At retirement Ray was given the Intelligence Commendation Award medallion for "especially commendable service." On May 2, 2006 he returned the medallion, stating that he "did not wish to be associated, however remotely, with an agency engaged in torture."

After retiring, Ray became co-director of the Servant Leadership School, part of the ecumenical Church of the Savior in inner-city Washington. The Church and School continue to support his writing/speaking through its Tell the Word activity, as well as his continued teaching at the School.

No longer briefing secretaries of state and defense one-on-one, he has nonetheless taken advantage of opportunities to confront them, nonviolently, with the truth. His mini-debate with Donald Rumsfeld on May 4, 2006 is still getting hits on YouTube, as is his silent standing witness — and violent removal and arrest — directly in front of Hillary Clinton during her speech (about human rights!) on February 15, 2011. Mr. McGovern continues to live by the credo chiseled into the marble entrance to CIA Headquarters: “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make ye free.” Bearing witness to the truth often brings consequences — a reality he has learned first hand.

(On July 10 Ray McGovern will just have returned—in his own words—“hopefully alive and in one piece” from participating in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. He will be traveling on The Audacity of Hope representing the US on the mission of delivering letters of support from people around the world to the people of Palestine.)

Free will offering. Light refreshments will be served

Sponsored by RCTC and Southeast Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers

Join us at our next regular monthly meeting Thursday, August 18, Rochester Public Library, Conference Room "A". If you have questions, please send us an email.

"Palestine Under Siege: What Every American Needs to Know"

Thursday, January 20, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Representatives from the Minnesota Break the Bonds Campaign presented an hour-long program on the plight of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation. This was followed by a time for questions.

The BDS (Boycott Divest Sanction) movement (of which MN Break the Bonds is a part) has been gaining momentum in the U.S. as well as the world. This citizens' initiative marks a turning point: the time for justice is long overdue for the Palestinian people, and traditional peace talks alone are not enough.

MN BBC has been on tour in the state giving programs like this one because as Minnesotans become informed on the ways they are supporting the Israeli government's unjust policies, they will be asking themselves and others: "Why has our state legislature taken a pro-Israel position in the investment of our tax money?" They will ask their legislators to uphold and apply the same ethical principles to investment in Israeli bonds as was done in the past when Minnesota divested from bonds with Sudan, Iran, and South Africa. State legislators from southeast Minnesota were invited and encouraged to attend. None did. So please, if this issue is important to you, contact your representatives. They need to hear from you.

If you'd like more information contact: Hank Kliewer

If you would like to send a letter to your representatives urging them to consider divesting from Israel click here.

If you are not sure who your representatives are click here

Minnesota Break the Bonds is part of a national movement to divest from Israel bonds until the government there ends the apartheid of the Palestinian people. Educate yourself and participate.