Georgia to Honor Original 33 Black Lawmakers with Permanent Memorial

State lawmakers and Atlanta leaders gather to recognize the first African American legislators elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1868.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Georgia state legislature has passed a bill to erect a permanent monument honoring the Original 33, the first 33 African American lawmakers elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1868. A temporary memorial was previously set up at the state Capitol, but the location for the permanent monument has not yet been determined. State Representative Carl Gilliard, who sponsored the bill, said they would like to see the monument placed on the third floor of the Capitol building, connecting the House and Senate chambers.

Why it matters

The Original 33 faced expulsion efforts and legal challenges when they were first elected, but their perseverance and service laid the groundwork for greater Black political representation in Georgia. Honoring their legacy with a permanent memorial at the state Capitol recognizes their historical significance and the ongoing struggle for racial justice in the state.

The details

In 1868, a group of 33 African American men were elected to the Georgia General Assembly, becoming the state's first Black lawmakers. However, a group of white Democrats and Republicans worked to expel them from office. The Georgia Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the Original 33 could hold their seats, and by 1870 they had been reinstated. Now, over 150 years later, the state legislature has passed a bill to erect a permanent monument honoring the Original 33 at the Georgia State Capitol.

  • The Original 33 were elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1868.
  • In 1868, a group of white Democrats and Republicans worked to expel the Original 33 from office.
  • By 1870, the Original 33 had been reinstated to their seats.
  • In 2025, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 303 into law, authorizing the creation of a permanent memorial for the Original 33.
  • On February 25, 2026, state lawmakers and Atlanta leaders gathered at the Georgia State Capitol to honor the Original 33 and discuss plans for the permanent monument.

The players

Carl Gilliard

A state representative from Savannah who sponsored House Bill 303 to create a permanent memorial for the Original 33.

Shirley Franklin

The former mayor of Atlanta who spoke at the ceremony honoring the Original 33.

Leah Ward Sears

A former Georgia Supreme Court Justice who recognized the contributions of the Original 33.

Andrew Young

A former U.S. Ambassador who joined the ceremony to honor the Original 33.

Pamela Colby

A descendant of Representative Abram Colby, one of the Original 33 lawmakers.

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What they’re saying

“It feels tremendously like a weight of the world has been lifted that these great men can finally be recognized.”

— Carl Gilliard, State Representative (cbsnews.com)

“I think about the 33, but I know the 33 had families. They had constituents, they had voters. They had people who made it possible for them to be elected.”

— Shirley Franklin, Former Atlanta Mayor (cbsnews.com)

“They actually represented the first step in what has been a long, challenging, relay race for justice in Georgia.”

— Leah Ward Sears, Former Georgia Supreme Court Justice (cbsnews.com)

“We recognize the Original 33, but really, we are recognizing the entire communities of all of those men and everything that they did and endured.”

— Pamela Colby, Descendant of Original 33 Lawmaker (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

Gilliard said they have a potential meeting next month with the Capitol Commission to discuss the proposed location for the permanent monument honoring the Original 33.

The takeaway

Honoring the legacy of the Original 33, the first African American lawmakers elected to the Georgia General Assembly, with a permanent memorial at the state Capitol is an important step in recognizing the long and ongoing struggle for racial justice and representation in Georgia.