Obie Anthony

Obie Anthony is a criminal justice reform advocate and exoneree who focuses on wrongful convictions and reentry support for formerly incarcerated individuals. Born in Missouri and raised in Los Angeles, Anthony was accused of murder at age 19, wrongfully convicted, and sentenced to life in prison. He spent 17 years incarcerated while maintaining his innocence. With the support of the Northern California Innocence Project and the Project for the Innocent at Loyola Law School, Anthony was exonerated after proving his innocence.

Following his release, Anthony has worked to raise awareness about wrongful convictions and the challenges exonerees face upon reentry. Recognizing the lack of state and federal support for exonerees, Anthony advocated for legislation to assist the wrongfully convicted. California AB 672, known as Anthony's Law, requires the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide transitional services such as housing assistance, job training, and mental health support for exonerees. He has contributed to the passage of additional California bills advancing exoneree rights and criminal justice reform.

To address gaps in reentry services, Anthony founded the nonprofit organization Exonerated Nation. The organization offers job training and placement, mental health resources, care packages, and leadership development for exonerees. Anthony's work in criminal justice reform and wrongful conviction advocacy has been featured on KCET-TV (PBS), TLC, Here and Now on NPR, and in national newspapers and digital media outlets.

Anthony is a frequent speaker at universities, conferences, and organizations, including Google, Pepperdine University, UCLA, Long Beach University, the Loyola Project for the Innocent, and the Innocence Project. He has received recognition for his leadership, including the Rockwood Leadership Institute Returning Citizens Fellowship and an honorary Master of Public Health degree from Touro University California for his contributions to health equity in the criminal justice system.