California prisoners end hunger strike after nearly 2-month protest over isolation policies

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California officials say inmates have ended their nearly two-month hunger strike to protest the prison system’s isolation policies.

More than 30,000 inmates had been refusing meals when the strike began in early July. They said gang leaders are often held for decades in isolation units.

Corrections Secretary Jeffrey Beard said in a statement that all inmates began accepting prison-issued meals Thursday.

Beard says he is pleased the strike ended before any inmate suffered serious injury. A federal judge had given authorities permission to force-feed inmates if necessary to save their lives.

By this week, just 100 people were on hunger strike, including 40 who had been on strike continuously since July 8.

The strike ended after two Democratic state legislators promised to hold hearings this year on inmates’ concerns.