WYCKOFF, N.J. (WCBS 880) — A community is rallying around a Chinese restaurant marred by racist, COVID-related graffiti in New Jersey.
Wyckoff is saying no to hate after someone spray painted the words "coronavirus," "COVID-19" and "Go home to China" all over the New Gourmet Garden Restaurant.
The family restaurant was the only establishment in a small strip mall that was vandalized.
Resident Kathy Oliver tied colorful red, white and blue balloons to the door as a way of showing solidarity.
"Just hang in there. A lot of people are throwing their arms around you and we feel terrible that this happened and I think it was just an isolated incident," she told WCBS 880's Sean Adams.
Across the parking lot, children planted a little garden of construction paper hearts with positive messages like "Be Kind."
A cleaning crew erased the racist graffiti for free.
A local rabbi dropped off flowers and a check.
When the restaurant reopened, people lined up for takeout.
Gov. Phil Murphy called the racist graffiti appalling.
"Coronavirus is not an excuse for racism," the governor tweeted. "We stand in full solidarity with our Chinese American community."
Police are investigating the incident as a bias crime.
This is the second time a business has been vandalized during the pandemic, according to authorities.