Georgia Capitol to house monument honoring 33 expelled Black lawmakers
Georgia lawmakers expelled 150 years ago will receive permanent Capitol memorial after legislation passes authorizing monument to honor the Original 33.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Georgia’s state Capitol will soon feature a permanent monument honoring 33 Black legislators who were expelled from office more than 150 years ago, following the passage of legislation authorizing the memorial.
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 Black legislators known as the Original 33.
The 33 lawmakers were elected in 1868 during Reconstruction but later expelled by legislators who argued they were ineligible to hold office.
Personal Connection Drives Legislation
For Gilliard, the legislation carries both political and personal significance. His interest in the Original 33 began when he first arrived at the Georgia House of Representatives.
“When I first came to the Georgia House of Representatives, every year during Black History Month, they used to say, ‘We want to send shouts-out to the Original 33.’ That was it,” Gilliard said. “I didn’t hear anything else.”
His curiosity led him to research the lawmakers further, ultimately discovering a connection to his own family history. Gilliard said he later learned he is a fifth-generation cousin of William Golden, one of the expelled legislators.
Existing Memorial Deemed Insufficient
Gilliard’s research revealed a six-foot bronze sculpture on the state Capitol lawn that was commissioned by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus and dedicated in 1976. The abstract design serves as a homage to Black history and includes three plaques acknowledging the names of the expelled legislators. The sculpture is titled “Expelled Because of Color.”
However, Gilliard and others believe the existing memorial does not adequately commemorate the Original 33. “I looked at the monument, and I didn’t see 33,” he said.
While the bronze sculpture acknowledges Black history broadly and includes the names of the expelled legislators, its abstract design does not specifically depict the Original 33 lawmakers.
New Monument Authorization
The new legislation is a step toward providing proper recognition for the pioneering Black legislators. The authorized monument will be located inside the state Capitol, giving it greater prominence and accessibility than the existing outdoor sculpture.
The Original 33 were groundbreaking figures in Georgia politics, representing the first Black legislators elected to serve in the state following the Civil War. Their subsequent expulsion marked a dark chapter in the state’s political history during the Reconstruction era.
The memorial day ceremony organized by Gilliard brought renewed attention to these historical figures and their contributions to Georgia’s legislative history. The event highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure their stories receive proper recognition and remembrance.
