Woman claims YMCA fired her over anti-ICE pin, YMCA says there’s more to story

MLive ^ | 2/6/2026 | Aya Miller

[simpson96]

KALAMAZOO, MI -- A woman says she was fired from the Kalamazoo YMCA for wearing an “ICE out” pin, but officials from the YMCA say there’s more to the story.

Abbey Thompson posted a picture of herself wearing an “ICE OUT” pin and flipping off the camera on Facebook on Thursday, Feb. 5. The post has received almost 600 reactions, comments and shares.

“I just got fired from YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo for wearing this because a member complained to the CEO - in case anybody wanted to know how they feel about immigrants, refugees and human rights,” Thompson said on Facebook.

The YMCA responded to Thompson’s post with a Facebook post of its own saying the organization is a “nonpartisan” environment.

“While the YMCA respects the right of our staff to engage in personal advocacy and civil discourse outside of the workplace, our facilities must remain a neutral space dedicated to community service,” the post read.

After backlash, YMCA officials said they should have released a “long form statement” with more information about the YMCA’s core mission.

“The issue goes far beyond what is being presented to the community,” said Vicky Kettner, the Kalamazoo YMCA’s director of marketing, community relations and member engagement.

Thompson’s termination was not related to dress code, Kettner said. The YMCA dress code is not strict and there’s a lot of leeway, Kettner said.

The YMCA’s original post said policies prohibit “vulgarity or political displays in the workplace.”

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TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: abbeythompson; crazycatlady; kalamazoo; whackamazoo

[simpson96]

She's a cat lady with pink hair. Are you shocked?

[dfwgator]

[alternatives?]

I feel sorry for the cats.

[No name given]

Not really. No.

[No name given]

So do I.

[Allegra]

I feel sorry for the cat.

[Fedora]

Thompson runs the Kzoo Cat Cafe and Rescue, which is a partner of the Best Friends Animal Society, the renamed Process Church of the Final Judgment, a Satanic offshoot of Scientology tied to accelerationism and the ecoterrorist movement. They use no-kill animal shelters as a front for acquiring animals for ritual purposes. Among their other activities are practicing bestiality and producing animal and child porn.

* * *
https://voyagemichigan.com/interview/meet-abbey-thompson-of-kalamazoo-mi

My background is actually in Psychology – I earned my Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology in 2014 and worked as a Higher Education Professional from 2011-2020. Just prior to COVID, I decided that I wanted to shift focus and work with animals, and have been running Kzoo Cat Cafe and Rescue, and petsitting as a Certified Professional Petsitter since 2020!

* * *

[healy61]

Fer crying out loud. Lay off the buttered biscuits and get some sunshine.

[SMARTY]

"...The YMCA responded to Thompson's post with a Facebook post of its own saying the organization is a “nonpartisan” environment..."

Pure BS! The YMCA where I go every morning has locked FOX News out of ALL televisions in the gym!

Pure spite because the management is VERY Liberal!

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

Here, if I put Fox News, Fox Business, or Newsmax on, there’s a leader with melamin (as Dr. Laura calls it) or two running that room who says “No, we need ESPN all the time”. I’ve referenced those as “Mouseheads” because of corporate language.

Mouseheads believe watching gambling odds for games and yesterday’s results are more relevant than the midday European markets and weather updates. These people have zero understanding of people because they are shoulder-deep into attempting the push of legalising sports wagering with a casino in the county we’re trying to stop. They refuse to even understand most of us are into things other than the NBA or NFL. Those people think that’s all they need.

The same person took Newsmax off to show the state lottery numbers channel.

Shows how narrow minded Mouseheads are because of their narrowness while many of us have a wide span of ideas, they think only in one.

[paulcissa]

Oh look at that! Another psychopathic cat lady living in an alternate universe. How quaint. That’s a beautiful tabby cat in the picture but the person is a disgusting pig.

[DeplorableTrumpSupporter]

Hmmm..a liberal women(?) fighting the liberal TMC(?)A...I guess I need some popcorn...