Washington inmates go on hunger strike over breakfast food

SPOKANE, Wash. — A majority of inmates at a medium-security prison in Washington state have gone on a hunger strike, protesting the quality of food served at breakfast.

Inmate Michael Linear tells The Spokesman-Review that 90 percent of the approximately 2,000 inmates at the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell are participating in the strike that started Friday.

State Department of Corrections spokesman Jeremy Barclay says the number of participants doesn't equal 90 percent, but there is a majority.

Linear says the prison in 2015 replaced hot breakfasts with so-called breakfast boats, boxed meals that usually contain a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, muffin, breakfast bar and powdered milk.

He says inmates want hot breakfasts again instead of an all-sugar meal.