A Filipino American food truck that was recently vandalized with anti-Asian graffiti is set to serve customers again, thanks to Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson.
The Fil-Am basketball star showed support for World Famous Yum Yum Food Truck, a local business in Layton, Utah that serves Filipino and Asian fusion food, after it was spray painted with racist messages over the weekend.
“It hurt me deeply to see that Salt Lake’s @yumyumasian food truck was recently vandalized,” the NBA Sixth Man of the Year said on Twitter on Wednesday, June 9. “I know the pain that hateful language and racism causes. With help from @identitygraphix we’ll be able to restore the truck and hopefully lift Ben and his family’s spirit!! #StopAsianHate”
It hurt me deeply to see that Salt Lake’s @yumyumasian food truck was recently vandalized – I know the pain that hateful language and racism causes. With help from @identitygraphix we’ll be able to restore the truck and hopefully lift Ben and his family’s spirit!! #StopAsianHate pic.twitter.com/HLfzX7AaEc
— Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) June 9, 2021
The truck was painted with racial slurs and drawings, including “f*ck ch*nks”, “ch*nks” repeatedly sprayed across the vehicle, and a drawing of a face with slanted eyes.
The owners of the truck took to social media to share the vandalism, and said they are planning to reopen in celebration of Philippine Independence Day on June 12.
“We are not going to have hatred stop us from sharing our culture,” a post on the World Famous Yum Yum Food Truck Facebook said. “We are just so hurt right now and don’t [know] what to comment on anything. Please don’t be offended if we don’t answer any questions at this time.”
“My son says, ‘This is a prank call — don’t play along with them,’” Pierce said to KSL.
Clarkson collaborated with Identity Graphx for a wrap and Gorilla Car Wash for a detail. He initially wanted to pay for the wrap, but Identity Graphx already offered to help the food truck and declined his offer. Clarkson then offered to detail the truck’s interior.
Pierce said he was surprised by the support not only from Clarkson but the Utah community as well.
“I don’t really cry that much, you know?” he said. “Emotionally, you just can’t believe — we love Utah by itself, but when the community is just so loving. All the love that we’re getting is unbelievable, we couldn’t ask for anything else.”
Utah officials like Layton City Councilman Zach Bloxham also showed support for the business, saying the owners were “victims of grotesque racism.”
“My heart hurts,” Bloxham said on Twitter. “@yumyumasian is a food truck serving delicious Filipino cuisine in Layton. This weekend they were victims of grotesque racism. If you have info, please share. If you can help these great people continue to pursue the American dream, do so. We love you, YumYum.”
Pierce, whose family members have been big Jazz fans, was given tickets to the Jazz-Clippers game on Thursday, June 10. Pierce said Jordan was “like a hero” for the Filipino community.
“Man, that guy’s a hero,” Pierce said. “This tragedy is a blessing, I would say. Just people coming together. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Asian-owned businesses have seen an uptick in vandalism and attacks since the pandemic. In March, a San Antonio ramen shop was vandalized with the words “No Mask,” “Kung Flu,” “Commie,” and “Hope U Die” sprayed on its windows. An East Sacramento Asian-owned gelato business also had its windows broken for the third time this March since last summer. Last year, a Seattle family restaurant had its windows broken.
Hate incidents against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community have doubled from March 2020 to March 2021, according to a report done by Stop AAPI Hate. Out of the 6,603 incidents reported, 32.2% of them occurred in businesses.
