Help free an innocent man—and stand up for all incarcerated people who were sentenced unjustly.

Why This Petition Matters
My husband, Andre Rider, has spent nearly 30 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit. His life was stolen by a false accusation, an unfair sentence, and a system that continues to fail African-American and Hispanic men at alarming rates.

The woman who accused Andre has written multiple notarized letters to California judges in Sacramento, fully admitting she lied. She confessed that the allegation was an act of retaliation because Andre planned to divorce her due to her infidelity. Her exact reasoning was simple and heartbreaking:

“If I couldn’t have him, no one else could.”

These are her words—not speculation, not assumptions—documented, notarized truth.

There is no evidence Andre ever harmed her.
There are sworn recantations. Yet Andre remains imprisoned—not because of facts, but because of his past criminal history and sentencing enhancements under the Three Strikes Law. The alleged “third strike” was based entirely on a false accusation, and yet it resulted in a punishment that should have never existed in the first place.

Andre’s Story Reflects a Much Bigger Problem
Andre is not alone. Across California’s prison system, African-American and Hispanic men are disproportionately sentenced, overcharged, and given enhancements that multiply their prison time far beyond what justice requires—even in cases where:

Evidence is weak or nonexistent
Witnesses recant Prosecutorial misconduct occurs
Bias, stereotypes, or systemic racism influence outcomes
Sentencing enhancements are used as punishment for the past—not present—actions. Many inmates are decades into sentences for crimes they did not commit, or for charges built on unreliable accusations, coerced statements, or errors that were never corrected.

Steps Already Taken to Seek Justice
To fight for Andre’s freedom and accountability within the system, I have already taken formal action:

• I have written and submitted a clemency letter to Governor Gavin Newsom, requesting a full review and executive intervention.
• I have also submitted a review and re-sentencing request to the California Attorney General’s Office, urging them to reconsider his case in light of the notarized recantations and current sentencing reforms.

Despite these efforts, Andre is still behind bars — which is why we need public support.

Who Andre Is Today
Andre is now 63 years old. He has spent nearly half his life behind bars for something he did not do. Despite everything, he has grown, matured, and worked to better himself spiritually and emotionally. He is a peaceful, compassionate man who deserves the chance to live the rest of his life in freedom—with dignity, with family, and with the truth recognized.

What We Are Asking For
We demand that the State of California:

Review and reevaluate Andre Rider’s case in light of notarized recantations
Correct sentencing injustices caused by outdated Three Strikes enhancements. Establish fair pathways for inmates with recanted or unreliable testimony. Address racial disparities that result in wrongful incarceration. Support reforms that ensure no person—especially African-American or Hispanic men—loses decades of life to false accusations. This petition is not only about freeing Andre.
It is about shining a light on every incarcerated person fighting to prove their innocence in a system that too often refuses to listen.

How You Can Help
Your signature can:

• Help bring Andre home after nearly 30 years of wrongful imprisonment
• Support broader reforms that could free others facing the same injustice
• Send a message to California leaders, the justice system, and the public
• Help stop the cycle of wrongful convictions that devastates families and communities

Please sign this petition and share it widely.
Stand with Andre.
Stand with the wrongfully convicted.
Stand with justice.

Together, we can bring Andre home—and help change the system for everyone still fighting for their freedom.