The year 2020 was one of unprecedented challenges that saw our nation increasingly divided, unable to control the COVID-19 pandemic that was filled with anti-Asian hate and continuing profiling of hundreds if not thousands of Chinese American scientists under investigations and prosecutions.

However, it ended with a positive story on humanity in which the heroes and victims in an anti-Chinese hate crime are not even of Chinese origin.  On December 27, 2020,a virtual event was held with Professor Steven Pei as the host to conclude a successful GoFundMe campaign, which was reported by the World Journal under the headline 员工勇救亚裔 华人5天募10万.

During the event, Zach Owen and Bawi Cung took the stage to express their appreciation for the generous donations of more than $121,000 from over 2,700 individuals.  President Qiang Gan and Treasurer Lin Li of ACP Foundation Dallas reported the state of the finances and various details of the fundraiser.  Other organizers for the fundraiser include OCA Greater Houston (H.C. Chang and Cecil Fong);Reagan Hignojos, friend of the Cung Family; United Chinese Americans (Steven Pei); and APAPA Austin Texas Chapter (C.J. Zhao). 

Bawi Cung and his two boys, aged 2 & 6, were hate crime victims in Midland, TX on March 14, 2020.  The suspect thought the Burmese family was Chinese and spreading the coronavirus and attacked them with a knife. As a bystander, Zach Owen disarmed the suspect bare handedly. Unfortunately, Zach’s right palm also suffered permanent injury and has retained only 40% of his grip strength. 

With the hope to find a better job in the west Texas oil field, Zach came to Midland from Oklahoma.  The injury disqualifies him from many oil field jobs. He has also been treated for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  The first $50,000 of donation will still be given to Zach on or before his birthday in mid-January 2021 to pay for his ongoing out-of-pocket medical bills, cover some of the financial deficit incurred due to the reduced working hours during his recovery period, and also help with Zach’s return to a normal life. We need more heroes like Zach Owen.

Earlier on June 22, 2020, a coalition of Asian American organizations honored Zach Owen and Bernie Ramirez, a Border Patrol agent who also intervened in the violent anti-Asian stabbing with aspecial Lily and Vincent Chin Advocacy Award Ceremony. It was followed by the From Vincent Chin to George Floyd Webinar led by Helen Zia, award-winning journalist and community activist, and moderated by Gordon Quan, attorney and former Houston City Council member.

On August 10, 2020, Zach Owen testified in the Tri-caucus Congressional Forum on Rise in Anti-Asian Bigotry during the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which was organized by the Congressional Asian Pacific Americcan Caucus.