Southwest Michigan DSA is appalled by the recent firing of a YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo worker for exercising their First Amendment rights and speaking out against the rise of fascism in our communities.
At a moment when communities across the country are confronting escalating authoritarian threats, the YMCA’s claim of political neutrality is anything but neutral. By refusing to stand with workers and community members against fascism, and instead imposing silence and compliance, the YMCA has failed to live up to its professed values as a welcoming and inclusive institution.
The dismissal exemplifies a broader pattern in which capitalist corporations and non-profits prioritize risk management over moral responsibility, even as workers put themselves on the line to protect their communities. History repeatedly shows that these organizations do not defeat fascism, workers do.
From the January 23 strike in Minnesota to the thousands of volunteers confronting ICE and other authoritarian forces, it is organized labor that steps forward when institutions, like the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo, fall short
Southwest Michigan DSA therefore calls on the YMCA of Greater Kalamazoo to do the right thing: immediately reinstate the fired employee and issue a public apology for this unjust termination.
We also urge workers, at the YMCA and across all institutions in Southwest Michigan, to join us in building worker power. Southwest Michigan DSA maintains an active Labor Working Group and stands ready to support unionization efforts throughout every sector of our local economy.
Fascism will not be defeated through neutrality or vague statements. It will be defeated when workers organize, fight back, and collectively take control of their futures.
Southwest Michigan DSA 