Gov. Murphy Dines At Wyckoff Restaurant Hit With Racist Graffiti

WYCKOFF, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy stopped for dinner in Wyckoff on Wednesday, and shared a story of community and perseverance in the process.

Murphy shared photos of his recent trip to Wyckoff's Gourmet Garden, the restaurant which was vandalized in June with racist coronavirus graffiti.

The words and phrases "coronavirus," "COVID-19" and "go home to China" were spray painted on the exterior of the building in what the township committee condemned as an "act of racism."

"In June, they were a victim of racist graffiti, but you would never know it from the spirit and perseverance we saw tonight," said Murphy. "We will always stand in full solidarity with our Asian American communities and small businesses."

A Gourmet Garden employee declined to comment on Friday.

Murphy wasn't the first person to show support for the business, just the most prominent.

On June 22, Wyckoff residents organized a "Rally Against Racism" in support of the business, and Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco also spoke out against the act.

"It is a stark reminder that there are forces that prefer to divide us and work against our common sense of community. It is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," he wrote.

"Now more than ever, it is crucial to come together to clearly and strongly say that hatred has no home here. The County of Bergen forcefully denounces all instances of hatred, bigotry, and racism and stands in solidarity with the Chinese American community with this latest incident."