Georgia Capitol honors Original 33 with planned memorial, awards

Atlanta leaders and state lawmakers gathered at the Georgia State Capitol Wednesday to honor the service and sacrifice of the Original 33.

The Original 33 refers to the first 33 African American legislators elected to the Georgia General Assembly in 1868. 

State Rep. Carl Gilliard, D-Savannah, introduced House Bill 303, also known as the Original 33 Memorial Act, during the 2025 legislative session. The bill, which was signed into law in 2025, requires a monument to be placed at the Capitol honoring the Original 33.

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

Gilliard told CBS News that he hopes the permanent monument will be displayed on the third floor which connects both House and Senate chambers and will be included in tours.

At the time the Original 33 were elected, a group of white Democrats and Republicans worked to expel them from office, but they were reinstated by 1870 after a Georgia Supreme Court ruling.

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

Former Georgia Supreme Court Justice Leah Ward Sears and former U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young spoke at the event.

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

Gilliard presented Young, Franklin, Sears, state Sen. Tonya Anderson, D-Lithonia, and state Sen. Donzella James, D-Atlanta, with the inaugural Original 33 award.