Garry Owens

Garry Owens (1945 – September 30, 2022) was an American activist and community leader from Seattle, Washington, best known for being an early member of the Seattle Black Panther Party.

Early life Garry Owens was born in Seattle's Chinatown-International District in 1945 and grew up in various neighborhoods around South Seattle. His family frequently moved between different housing projects due to poverty. Owens later stated that the diversity of the neighborhoods he grew up in influenced him from an early age. He attended Franklin High School and became involved in the Congress of Racial Equality his senior year. After graduating from high school, Owens was drafted into the Vietnam War. Though he was never sent overseas, he later stated that his time in the army had a major influence on his political development. The time he spent in the South while in the Army caused him to think more critically about racism in Seattle. In the same year, Owens joined the newly formed Seattle Black Panther Party. Owens was particularly drawn to the party because of its work to address poverty.

In addition to his activities in his union, Owens served on the board of Legacy of Equality, Leadership, and Organizing (LELO), a multiracial organization that advocates for racial and economic justice, for many years.

Later life Owens married Cindy Domingo, a community organizer in Seattle and sister of Silme Domingo. The couple had three children and were married for over 30 years, until Owens' death.

Owens died in 2022 from multiple health issues and complications due to COVID-19.