Dan Mathews is the in-your-face face of PETA, the senior veep at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
He’s in Denver at 7:30 p.m. Friday, at the Tattered Cover on East Colfax Avenue, with his book “Committed: A Rabble-Rouser’s Memoir.” And it all started in Denver.
About 10 years ago, Mathews tells me, he was protesting here at a National Cattleman’s Beef Association meeting. He was wearing his cow outfit, of course, and tried to sneak into the hall.
“I wanted to get on the podium, take off my cow head and give them a talking to,” Mathews says. “But I got arrested instead.”
The police confiscated his cow suit and put him in a group cell in jail. He was left wearing cutoff jeans and a sweaty orange tank top. He describes it as a “come rape me” outfit.
“So I just crawled under the bench and pretended I was asleep,” he says. “It was an exciting time with Denver’s finest. I love Denver. I love the jail and the people there.”
In general, police treat PETA protestors with a grin, Mathews says. “We’re not violent. We just like making things provocative and having some fun.”
His Denver jail time, with pictures, was featured in a story he wrote for Details magazine, “The Connoisseur’s Guide to the World’s Jails.” And that eventually led to the book.
Denver has a cattle heritage, and Mathews likes that. “People seem to be more open-minded about what we’re saying in a culture that has dealt with animal industries,” he says. Out here, we know how steaks get to the table. And I personally know how good they taste.
Brains in the Butte
Not every big brain is in Aspen this summer. Sure, the Aspen Ideas Festival is currently hosting the likes of Bill and Hillary Clinton, Karl Rove and Jim Lehrer. But people with a lot on their minds also go to Crested Butte.
Now in its fourth year, the Public Policy Forum of Crested Butte this summer welcomes Tim Wirth on Wednesday, Gary Hart on Aug. 15 and Joseph Wilson on Aug. 22. Wilson will bring his wife, Valerie Plame, who will not be a speaker. Don’t look for Scooter Libby. Wilson will tell it as it is in a speech titled “Truth in Governance: How the Bush Administration Misled the Americans to War.”
The Butte is known as a jock town and an arts town – but people think in that thin air too. Last year, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor drew more than 600 people to a mountainside beer hall to hear her speak.
“A lot of folks here care about public issues,” says board member Emily Collins. “We’re happy with eight or nine weeks of high-caliber speakers. We want to hear other voices.”
City spirit
Sightem: Rockies’ Garrett Atkins and Phillies’ Chase Utley having drinks and dinner at Sullivan’s on Thursday night … The whole world got married Saturday – 07/07/07 – and Marie Klint in Denver celebrated her 100th birthday, born July 7, 1907 … Champ Bailey, Carmelo Anthony and Javon Walker are signed up to sign autographs for $25 apiece this month at Colorado Horse Park Show Jumping Grand Prix … Sez who: “I think I’m a pretty good judge of people, which is why I hate most of them.” Roseanne Barr
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Husted also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or bhusted@denverpost.com. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at.
