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Feminist bookstore and community space In Other Words is closing permanently at the end of the month.
In an announcement posted on its website Monday, owners pointed to a "lack of funds, volunteers, and board members," as well as a prevalence of "white, cis" leadership as the reasons for the closure. The Oregonian first reported the news.
"The current volunteers," the announcement reads, "and board members stepped into and took over a space that was founded on white, cis feminism (read: white supremacy.)
"It's really difficult," it continues, "actually, impossible, for us to disentangle from that foundational ideology."
In Other Words has been open for 25 years. The store became nationally famous after appearing on Portlandia as the fictional Women and Women First book store. But in 2016, owners posted a seething public letter denouncing the show: ""Fuck Portlandia! Transmisogyny – Racism – Gentrification – Queer Antagonism – Devaluation of Feminist Discourse."
Related: Feminist Bookstore Made Famous on Portlandia Posts "Fuck Portlandia" Sign
The shop's blog later explained: "[Portlandia] has had a net negative effect on our neighborhood and the city of Portland as a whole." (Carrie Brownstein, the show's lead, also donated a "couple hundred dollars" to In Other Words in attempted reparations.)
Replacing the feminist community center, Monday's announcement says, is Critical Resistance Portland—a national organization seeks to "end the prison industrial complex." It will take over the space as a headquarters for a local chapter.
"To all of the people who have organized here, attended events, read a life-changing book in our library, gave their time, money, energy, knowledge, skills, and love to this space," In Other Words' announcement concludes, "we thank you."