The family that owns World Famous Yum Yum Food Truck in Layton is feeling the love from neighbors, local politicians and Utah Jazz player Jordan Clarkson in the wake of racist vandalism.
“It feels so good that so many people care,” said head chef Ben Pierce.
The Filipino food truck was spray-painted with anti-Asian messages sometime between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Sunday, according to Layton Police Lt. Travis Lyman. Lyman said police are investigating but don’t have a suspect yet. He said the department is asking the public to come forward with any information.
Pierce said he noticed the graffiti when he got to his parents’ home, where the truck was parked, on Sunday morning. He said his father was almost in tears after reading the messages on the truck.
The vandalism gained traction online after Pierce and his son posted photos of the truck on Facebook. Pierce said he originally didn’t plan on sharing the images, but said his fiancee encouraged him to post them.
“The whole neighborhood basically stopped by the house,” said Pierce. “Even on Sunday, everyone was already coming out and apologizing for someone else.”
Other businesses, members of the city council and Mayor Joy Petro reached out, too, Pierce said. Utah Jazz player Jordan Clarkson, who is Filipino-American, and print shop Identity Graphx are teaming up to restore the truck. Clarkson said on Twitter that it hurt him deeply to see that the truck was vandalized. He said he knows the pain that hateful language and racism cause.
Lyman said police found out about the graffiti after the fact because of the attention it received online. He said police contacted the family for information about what happened. Lyman said he doesn’t think the family intended for the story to become as big as it has gotten.
World Famous Yum Yum Food Truck has been closed for the week. Pierce said they will reopen on June 12 for the Philippines Independence Day celebration in Salt Lake City.
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