Dad Finds Disgusting Letter ‘on Behalf of the Entire Community’ Demanding His Family Move

Fox 40

In some regards, we've come a really long way when it comes to healing the racial divide in America, when you look back across the last 50 or so years. And in other ways? We're still back at square one. That's exactly how a story out of Vacaville, California, will leave you feeling, anyway. According to Marc Yu, his family found a type-written letter in the mail last week that fired off a litany of racist comments and assumptions about them — before asking them to kindly vacate their home. You know, for the sake of the neighborhood.

The shocking note, which was found on May 1, was written as though it were on behalf of the entire community.

It was sticking out of his mailbox Wednesday morning and Yu stopped to grab the note on his way to work. He was stunned by what it said. 

"The community is making this request that you find another place to live," the note read. "… your interracial family is not welcome here."

(Yes, it really said that.)

The letter continued on, noting the many things the neighborhood prides itself in -- things that the writer believes the Yus do not represent.

"The Meadowland is an older neighborhood with established residents living in this area for over 20 years,” it continued. “We pride ourselves for the cleanliness and quiet atmosphere in the area. Very little crime as well. The community is making this request that you find another place to live. Renters like yourselves cannot possibly afford a home in our area … This is not the ghetto."

Marc Yu is of Chinese and Filipino descent, whereas his wife Sandy is Mexican American, Yahoo Lifestyle notes, which yes, makes their family interracial. But you know what it also makes the Yus? It makes them look like a whole lot of other families living across the US right now.

In fact, the US Census Bureau reports that the percentage of interracial and interethnic married couple households is on the rise.

In 2015, mixed-race families accounted for 17 percent of all marriages — which, to put it in perspective, is up 14 percent from 1967, according to the Guardian. It's most common in metropolitan areas of greater diversity, but it's also especially common in states such as California, where the Yus live, which makes the anonymous note all the more perplexing — and offensive.

"We may sound harsh," the letter continues, "but your interracial family is not welcome here. We will contact your landlord and tell them to evict you if you don't vacate in the next 60 days.”

Yu shared the full letter on Facebook this week, where it's since gone viral.

"It's 2019," he wrote in the post caption. "This is what came in the mail sticking out my mailbox."

And for the record, he adds, the letter writer is in for a rude awakening if they follow through on the threat.

"I own my home, so I can’t wait for them to contact the 'Landlord,'" wrote Yu. "I can’t believe this sh*t still happens."

And yet sadly, it still does.

Facebook users have been sounding off on the letter ever since it was shared, with many calling it "disgusting."

"Despicable, irresponsible, and un-American," wrote one user.

"I'm so sorry you're having to endure their ignorance," wrote another.

At least one person urged Yu to contact authorities. "This is a hate crime with a tangible threat," the person wrote. "If reported to the police, they could figure out who it was via finger prints."

Still, there were plenty of other conspiracy theorists who inevitably thought it was all a hoax — apparently, because the note seemed too offensive to be true. (Clearly, they've never experienced race-based discrimination.)

Speaking with Fox 40, Yu said he doesn't believe the letter is representative of his community's attitude as a whole.

"The community, as far as the ones that we have met so far, have been very welcoming, along with most of Vacaville," Sandy Yu said.

In fact, Fox 40 spoke with several of the Yus's neighbors, who all had nice things to say about the family, who moved into the neighborhood in November. In fact, some shared that the Yus even opened their doors to "homeless grandparents and a grandson, along with two women who struggled to find a place to live."

"We just try to keep our kids to understand the raw value of things and understand what’s right and what’s wrong," Yu told the outlet. "Not everybody is a bad apple. There's more good people than there are bad people."