Swastikas in the mail: Houston-based Dr. Peter Hotez reports anti-Semitic crackdown on vaccines

AP Photo / Justin Rex

Houston doctor Peter Hotez is well known as a proponent of pandemic precautions.

He is also a Jew. This week, he tweeted photos of the images he received in the mail – two swastikas, one superimposed on a mask and one made from syringes.

The letter was sent to our house this afternoon in the US Post. Second one in a month. I really don’t want or need a swastika collection. local law enforcement and@ADLnotified. On top of all the other aggression since Twitter invited the hate groups back. Heavy things. pic.twitter.com/wznyz2oFot

— Professor Peter Hotez, MD (@PeterHotez) January 18, 2023

Hotez was not available for an interview. He tweeted that he also received phone calls and was harassed. Previously, he spoke about the link between misinformation about COVID-19 and the rise of anti-Semitic hatred.

Anti-Defamation League poll results published This month shows that anti-Semitic sentiment has skyrocketed in the United States over the past three years.

The researchers polled more than 4,000 respondents about a range of anti-Semitic stereotypes, such as the idea that Jews have too much economic power or that they are not “warm and friendly.”

The number of people holding at least six or more anti-Semitic beliefs has nearly doubled from 11% before the pandemic to 20% in 2022. More than three-quarters of respondents believe in at least one anti-Semitic cliché.

Mark Toobin is ADL’s Regional Director for the Southwest.

“It would be bad enough if it was just people’s attitudes, but we know this is just the beginning.” he said. “Because that attitude ends up extending to people who commit violent acts.”

Anti-Semitic incidents can be reported to the ADL through feed portal.