“The heartbreaking racial violence and injustices that the black community continues to experience across this country provides a stark reminder that for many, those ideals are not a reality. It’s just as stark a reminder for us at REI—that for all our ideals, we are still a long way from achieving them for all in our own community.”“We must continue to challenge ourselves, and our community, to be better listeners, better partners, better advocates for one another. For us to see the change we want in the world outside, we must start inside.”“We will continue to work with our partners, across the country, who have worked for years in service of greater equity and inclusion in the outdoors. And we call on our entire community to come together with collective resolve and a commitment to respect, understanding and support.”#BlackLivesMatter.

On Monday, the outdoor fitness retailer REI announced it will close its only remaining store in Portland in February 2024.The company emailed REI members to explain that the location could no longer guarantee the safety of employees and patrons, the local NBC outlet reported.“The safety of our employees, members and customers is always our number one priority. In recent years, Portland has been dealing with increased crime in our neighborhood and beyond. Last year, REI Portland had its highest number of break-ins and thefts in two decades, despite actions to provide extra security,” REI said in its email…Last year on Black Friday, the store was subject to a jaw-dropping theft in which a car was used to break the store’s doors.