Bilerico-Indiana's LGBT community group

Will Indiana University continue to support rightwing paramilitary groups?

Since Indiana University has reopened contract negotiations with Coca-Cola, I'm wondering if they'll finally listen to the faculty, students and alumni who have been calling for the soft drink to be thrown off campus. They criticize Coke's record of human rights violations around the world. The group is urging students and concerned individuals to e-mail IU President Michael McRobbie and the Board of Trustees.

Students have previously met with university administrators over the issue. Students have held protests, candlelight vigils, wrote editorials in the school newspaper, handed out informational fliers, and made presentations to the student body and administrators, but so far the school has continued their close relationship with the soft drink manufacturer.

A few details of Coke's Columbian manufacturing operations after the jump.

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Update: Suspect caught in murder of two elderly gay men

The Indianapolis Star is reporting that Michael Brown, a suspect in last month's murders of Eric Hendricks and Milton Lindgren has been arrested in California. Hendricks, 73, and Lindgren, 70, were found beaten to death in their home in late October.

The two men had been targeted earlier for their sexuality. Their phone and cable lines were cut and "FAG" was spray painted on the house. Thankfully, the likelihood that the homicides were a hate crime is diminishing quickly.

Brown was originally mentioned by police as a friend of the victims who had found the bodies. In a printed police report, officers said Brown told them he had not heard from Hendricks and Lindgren for a week or two, and he went to their residence. There, according to the statement, Brown told officers he found a rear window was partly open.

The report said Brown and another man told police they entered the house through that window and found the victims' bodies inside.

A memorial service is planned at the Indianapolis Art Center on Thursday, November 20 at 5:30 p.m.

Indianapolis joins National Day of Protest

Yesterday about 250 people stood outside the Indianapolis City-County Building in a cold rain and sleet as part of the grassroots National Day of Protest. While that may not seem like a lot of people compared to the posts about massive protests with thousands of people, I'd like to share specific reasons why Indy's rally was one of the best.

Jerame had to go to a funeral, so he dropped me off at the protest on his way out of town. I brought along the camcorder for the blog and the bullhorn for the protest. As a veteran of several protests, I know you always come prepared. But even I was unprepared for what happened.

Story and video after the jump.

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