Descendants of Georgia’s first Black lawmakers hope to elevate their stories through new monument

More than 150 years after they were expelled from the Legislature, Georgia’s first Black lawmakers, known as the Original 33, are set to receive a permanent memorial in their name. 

State Rep. Carl Gilliard, a Savannah Democrat, hosted the inaugural “original 33” memorial day ceremony at the state Capitol this year highlighting the passage of House Bill 303 last year. 

The law authorizes a monument to be placed inside the state Capitol honoring the 33 Black legislators who were elected in 1868 during Reconstruction but later expelled by lawmakers who argued they were ineligible to hold office.