A Nashville hat shop is facing significant backlash after selling patches resembling the yellow Star of David badges that Jewish individuals were forced to wear during the Holocaust, but with the words “NOT VACCINATED” inscribed on them. The store, known as HatWRKS, has come under scrutiny for trivializing the suffering of Holocaust victims in an apparent attempt to make a statement against vaccination mandates. Following protests outside the shop and a flood of criticism on social media, the owner issued a lackluster apology, failing to grasp the gravity of the situation.
The patches were promoted on the shop’s Instagram, where they were described as “great” and priced at $5 each. Additionally, the owner, identified as Mia Thompson, indicated plans to create trucker hats with the same “not vaccinated” slogan. In a further Instagram post, Thompson made a controversial comparison between vaccine mandates and the Nazi demand for “your papers.”
As noted by the Holocaust Memorial Center, the Nazis enforced the wearing of badges as a means of isolating Jewish people, paving the way for their eventual deportation and murder. Equating modern vaccine requirements with the historical persecution of Jews is not only misguided but deeply offensive.
Community members expressed their outrage, with one protester stating, “We are here to stand against hate and ignorance, especially when it comes to selling symbols that represent the loss of 6 million lives.”
In response to the uproar, Thompson removed the post featuring the patches; however, in subsequent communications, she continued to convey anti-vaccine sentiments, framing her shop as a “victim of the mob.” Her social media presence has been heavily influenced by conspiracy theories commonly associated with far-right movements, including promoting “mask-free shopping.”
In light of the controversy, Stetson, a prominent hat brand sold at HatWRKS, announced it would sever ties with the shop, emphasizing its condemnation of antisemitism and discrimination.
The entire situation is particularly bewildering given that it revolves around a hat shop, making the insensitivity even more pronounced. As one protestor succinctly put it, “There is simply no way to reasonably compare the choice to remain unvaccinated with the persecution endured by Jewish individuals during the Holocaust.”
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Summary
A Nashville hat shop, HatWRKS, has faced severe backlash for selling patches resembling the yellow Star of David, inscribed with “NOT VACCINATED.” The shop’s owner issued a weak apology after a public outcry and protests, failing to recognize the historical significance of the symbol. The controversy has led to Stetson ending its business relationship with the shop.