Jordan Clarkson helps rescue vandalized Filipino American food truck

 

INSTAGRAM

The Yum Yum Food Truck is sporting a new paint job, top. Below, the Filipino American food truck before it was vandalized.

When Salt Lake City celebrates Philippine Independence Day this Saturday, June 12, expect long lines at the Yum Yum Food Truck with its newly painted design in the form of the Philippine flag.

The food truck that serves Asian fusion and Filipino cuisine, was targeted over the weekend by vandals who painted anti-Asian slurs and derogatory images on the truck.

The truck's new eye-catching design is courtesy of Utah Jazz Jordan Clarkson who caught wind of what happened to the Yum Yum truck and paid for new wrap around the truck. Clarkson, who is Filipino American, was named Sixth Man of the Year for the NBA for his scoring prowess coming off the bench for the No. 1 ranked Jazz.

Clarkson wrote on social media: "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."The owners of the truck thanked those involved in a Facebook post:

"It has been an emotional few days. The love and support that we got from all of you has been deeply heartfelt. My family can't thank you guys enough. Special thanks to Utah Jazz's Jordan Clarkson and Dan from Identity graphics for the new look. We want to thank everyone individually in a couple weeks when we have our LOVE celebration in the park and feed the community. Thanks to Mayor Joy Petro, Councilman Clint Morris, Councilman Zach Bloxham, Dustin, everyone in the neighborhood and all of you angels. Love prevails. We are going to have our grand reopening this Saturday at the Philippine independence day celebration in slc."

Clarkson's good deed was appreciated. "Man, that guy's a hero. This tragedy is a blessing, I would say. Just people coming together. I've never seen anything like it," said Ben Pierce, one of the truck's owners.

“We are not going to have hatred stop us from sharing our culture," the owners posted.

"I really can't describe how much this means to us right now," the truck's owner wrote on Instagram. "I am overwhelmed that in the midst of playoffs #jordanclarkson took time to support our food truck and is having the wrap done on our truck.

The Jazz are playing the L.A. Clippers in the NBA's Western semi-finals and lead the best-of-seven series, 1-0.

When the two teams play again Thursday, June 10, the Pierces will be in the stands rooting for their team after the Jazz gave tickets to the family.

On Wednesday, Layton Police announced they are still looking for those responsible for the vandalism and offered a $500 reward for information that leads to their arrest.

Layton Mayor Joy Petro told KSL Newsradio that she had visited the owners and was "sorry it happened to them."

“And certainly this is not how I see nor portray our city,” she said.