We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Obie Anthony. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Obie below.

Hi Obie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I was once wrongfully imprisoned and suffer 17 years behind bars for a crime I did not commit. In 1994, I was accused of murder, despite a lack of physical evidence linking me to the crime. I was only 19 years old at the time.

Despite maintaining my innocence throughout my incarceration, In 2008 the north California innocent project Loyola Project for the innocent took my case and 3 1/2 years later found that the original investigation was deeply flawed, and that there was no evidence to support my conviction. In 2011 I was finally released from prison, reunited with my family, and began to rebuild my life.

Since my release, I have dedicated my life to social justice issues because of what I suffered, and begun advocating for other wrongfully convicted people. I founded “Exonerated Nation in 2016,” a non-profit organization that provides support and advocacy for those who have been wrongfully convicted, and helps them to rebuild their lives after their release from prison because when I came home that wasn’t there for me. I’ve also become an advocate for criminal justice reform, and worked to raise awareness about the issues that lead to wrongful convictions in the United States.

I knew I had the passion and well , I just needed help to really change things not only for me but other’s as well. The how to was in front me and there were opportunities, speaking engagements, talking to legislators, congressmen and women, so the work could be done. And 2015 Obie’s law was put in place.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Prior to being wrongfully convicted and incarcerated, I was an inner-city kid going to school to be a dental assistant and working part-time with the California Conservation Corps. Pursuit of my goals as a young teenager was disrupted at 19 years old when I was framed and put in prison for a murder I didn’t commit. Time spent while incarcerated taught me first hand the injustice of the criminal justice system and further, with my eventual exoneration and release, I learned how hard it was to access much needed resources in attempting to put my life back together. This led me to start Exonerated Nation-to help exonerated individuals have access to necessary resources-more easily and expeditiously. Exonerated Nation strives to meet the immediate needs of exonerees by helping to heal the debilitating spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical effects of being wrongfully incarcerated and to affect policy change for restoration and the righting of wrongs.

Some of the services Exonerated Nation provides are:
-navigational support for locating important resources such as housing, employment and apprenticeship opportunities, and mental health services
-holding annual convenings for healing and leadership development
-health and wellness events and activities
-distributing day-one welcome home packages
-continuing to grow awareness of wrongful conviction through speaking engagements at universities, colleges
-conduct participatory research to inform legislation and hopefully create policy change that improves the lives of exonerees and furthers overall criminal justice reform

Exonerated Nation has provided education to California policy makers, having impact on the passage of the following bills in California:

AB 672 (Jones-Sawyer) – 2015, Obie’s Law
AB 1909 (Lopez) – 2016, Felony for prosecutorial misconduct
AB 1050 (Lara) – 2018, Gate Money
AB 701 (Weber) – 2019, Exoneree Housing
AB 703 (weber – 2019, Exoneree Higher Education

My passion to help others who’ve experienced the trauma of wrongful conviction and incarceration is also my motivation to continue helping other exonerees and fighting for justice. I am most proud of the connections and friendships gained, and the trust and confidence others have for me and my organization. The hope and optimism that exonerees bring to each and every Exonerated Nation event in spite of what they’ve endured reinforces the fact that there is a need for the programs and services we provide and inspires me to keep going and growing what we do.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Being an exoneree, I understand first-hand the trauma resulting from wrongful conviction and incarceration. Therefore, programs and services are very intentional in focusing on the unique reentry needs of exonerees. There is a level of comfort achieved amongst peers who’ve had similar experiences and providing those safe spaces for exonerees to convene allows them to be open and vulnerable when sharing their stories with one another. We hold facilitated retreats annually, each pinpointing a specific area for healing, growth, and well-being. We started our first annual hike last year, in 2023, as an activity where exonerees can come together with family, loved ones, and supporters to spend time outdoors for a mental and physical health boost while building community. We hold Advocacy Education Day to guide exonerees in sharing their powerful testimony with legislators and advocating for policies that improve the lives of exonerees and help further overall criminal justice reform. Additionally, our participatory research sheds light on the enormous impact that wrongful conviction and incarceration has on individuals which then spills over to their relationships with family members and loved ones, and further effects their communities. Greater understanding of these issues leads us to better develop programs and services that can help address reentry needs as well as better inform development of policies to improve the lives of exonerated individuals and further criminal justice reform overall. Through their experiences, connections, and contact with myself, other staff and board members of Exonerated Nation, we’ve become a trusted entity within the exoneree community. There is an overall appreciation expressed for the communal healing and unity opportunities provided through EN.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I’d like to mention my good friend, Quedellis “Rick” Walker, who worked alongside me in helping exonerees. Rick was wrongfully convicted of first-degree murder in December of 1991. Although there was no physical evidence connecting Walker to the crime, he was tried and sentenced to 26 years to life in prison. After years of futile appeals, new evidence came to light by way of his new attorney, prompting the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office to reopen the case. DNA evidence confirmed Walker was not the perpetrator. Walker was set free in June of 2003 with an apology from the District Attorney’s Office. Walker used his experience to promote positive change within the justice system. He was also a member of Northern California Innocence Project’s Advisory Board. Rick has since passed away in 2020. He is remembered as an amazing man and spirit. He was a forerunner and visionary for the exonerated community, and worked diligently to help the wrongfully convicted seek justice. His passion and commitment for “righting the wrongs” of the State and standing up for others, truly helped to set the tone for an organization committed to healing and policy reform for exonerees. He had a big heart, and was eloquent in standing up for those who could not stand up for themselves. Rick’s warm and enduring spirit served to comfort those of us who had the privilege of working closely with him. He will have a lasting legacy for anyone concerned with equal justice. He was a genuine soul who treated everyone with compassion and gave of himself for a more fair, humane, and equitable justice system.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://exoneratednation.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exoneratednation/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exoneratednation
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExoneratedN
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtmKQhh4jp2ONPec08JYsAQ

Image Credits
Exonerated Nation events and presentations.