Responding to the report from Human Rights Watch, with attendant media coverage, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that in October 2000 that it would open an investigation. The Virginia Department of Corrections announced plans in March 2012 to review solitary confinement policies at Red Onion. A "Washington Post" report suggested that this announcement would continue to postpone action by the Department of Justice. On May 22, 2012, inmates in Red Onion began a hunger strike to bring "abusive prison conditions to light". The prisoners said: "Regardless of sexual preference, gang affiliation, race and religion, there are only two classes at this prison: the oppressor and the oppressed. We the oppressed are coming together. We're considered rival gang members, but now we're coming together as revolutionaries. We're tired of being treated like animals." Inmates issued ten demands including "fully cooked food", "unrestricted access to complaint and grievance forms", "an adequate standard of living", and "adequate medical care". Red Onion officials stated that the hunger strike ended within a week. Supporters of the strikers challenged these reports and contended that the prison has taken pains to isolate and silence strike leaders in order to discourage communication with the outside world.