The House State Properties Committee unanimously passed a measure to build a monument to Georgia lawmakers expelled from the statehouse after the Civil War.
House Bill 303, the Original 33 Memorial Act, would allow for a privately funded monument honoring the Original 33, the Black legislators expelled from the General Assembly in 1868 after their election during Reconstruction. The monument would be placed on the State Capitol grounds or in another prominent place.
HB 303 awaits consideration by the House Rules Committee.
“House Bill 303 marks a crucial step in honoring the legacy of the Original 33—the Black legislators unjustly expelled from the General Assembly after Reconstruction—whose contributions, as American heroes, are integral to both American history and the ongoing fight for equality,” state Rep. Carl Gilliard, D-Savannah, said in a release.
“These individuals fought not only for their rightful place in the legislature but also for the core principles of justice, equity and representation during one of the most turbulent times in our nation’s history,” Gilliard added. “I am deeply committed to honoring their courage and determination by ensuring their contributions are never forgotten and that their resilience in the face of adversity serves as a powerful, lasting reminder for future generations.”
A six-foot-tall bronze sculpture titled Expelled Because of Color stands on the grounds of the Georgia State Capitol. The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus commissioned the monument in 1976, and it was unveiled on Feb. 16, 1978, the second annual Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials Day.
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