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Woman claims YMCA fired her over anti-ICE pin, YMCA says there’s more to story
MLive ^ | 2/6/2026 | Aya Miller

Posted on 02/10/2026 8:43:27 PM PST by 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.”


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

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

1 posted on 02/10/2026 8:43:27 PM PST by simpson96
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To: simpson96

2 posted on 02/10/2026 8:44:48 PM PST by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: simpson96

I feel sorry for the cats.


3 posted on 02/10/2026 8:46:36 PM PST by alternatives?
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To: simpson96

Not really. No.


4 posted on 02/10/2026 8:54:41 PM PST by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: alternatives?

So do I.


5 posted on 02/10/2026 8:54:49 PM PST by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: simpson96

I feel sorry for the cat.


6 posted on 02/10/2026 9:24:50 PM PST by Allegra (We will not be emotionally blackmailed into backing off what we voted for. )
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To: simpson96; piasa

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!

* * *


7 posted on 02/10/2026 9:36:18 PM PST by Fedora
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To: simpson96

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


8 posted on 02/10/2026 9:39:41 PM PST by healy61
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To: simpson96; All
"...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!

9 posted on 02/11/2026 2:05:44 AM PST by SMARTY (In politics, stupidity is not a handicap. Napoleon Bonaparte I)
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To: SMARTY

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.


10 posted on 02/11/2026 3:17:02 AM PST by WhiteHatBobby0701
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To: simpson96

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.


11 posted on 02/11/2026 3:47:23 AM PST by paulcissa (The left hates you and wants you dead.)
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To: simpson96

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


12 posted on 02/11/2026 4:59:28 AM PST by DeplorableTrumpSupporter (FKA ConservaTeen)
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To: alternatives?

Re: Post #3...Funny...love it...👍


13 posted on 02/11/2026 5:46:09 AM PST by DeplorableTrumpSupporter (FKA ConservaTeen)
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To: Fedora
I wouldn't let her babysit my kids stuffed animals...🤣

Let alone any of my pets!!

14 posted on 02/11/2026 5:48:20 AM PST by DeplorableTrumpSupporter (FKA ConservaTeen)
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To: WhiteHatBobby0701; All

Well... I reminded the Management there tht “I” am not using the gym for free...”I” am paying TOO!!


15 posted on 02/11/2026 6:05:38 AM PST by SMARTY (In politics, stupidity is not a handicap. Napoleon Bonaparte I)
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To: simpson96

So employers have no control over employees wearing provocative political paraphernalia on their time and premises with their customers?


16 posted on 02/11/2026 6:07:55 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: SMARTY

Good. I reminded them that showing gambling odds is in violation of the value system. The same group of weight room supervisors ignore me because I am not “the chosen race” in their view.

The neosegregation movement started in “HBCU Conferences” college football in Division I FCS. Few people admit that is a problem, and they think they can collect more revenue in them than they can in the NCAA tournament.


17 posted on 02/11/2026 8:13:31 AM PST by WhiteHatBobby0701
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