Honor the Original 33 (GA HB 48)
The Issue
In September 1868, just after the Civil war ended, 33 legislators were expelled from the Georgia General Assembly solely because they were black. The end of slavery and the ability for black men to vote opened the door for elected officials of color. This also marked the beginning of voting laws, black codes, and voter intimidation to prevent blacks, including those who were never enslaved, from getting political power.
Due to the involvement of the church, 24 legislators were ministers.
Of the 33 expelled, originally 29 black representatives were removed.
Four members, who were considered mulatto (that is they were less than 1/8 black) held their seats for an additional 10 days before being expelled.
Representative Henry McNeal Turner lobbied the federal government to reinstall the 33 legislators.
One-quarter of the black legislators were killed, threatened, beaten, or jailed. This ultimately led to Democratic victories in 1870.
Remember their names!!
Representatives Philip Joiner (Dougherty), Malcolm Claiborn (Burke), Tunis Campell Jr. (McIntosh), Samuel Williams (Harris), John Warren (Burke), Abraham Smith (Muscogee), Alexander Stone (Jefferson), Alfred Richardson (Clarke), Robert Lumpkin (Macon), Peter O’Neil (Baldwin), George Linder (Laurens), James M. Simms (Chatham), Ulysses L. Houston (Bryan), William A. Golden (Liberty), Samuel Gardner (Warren), F.H. Fyall (Macon), Monday Floyd (Morgan), Madison Davis (Clarke), John T. Costin (Talbot), Romulus Moore (Columbia), Abram Colby (Greene), George H. Clower (Monroe), Edwin Belcher (Wilkes), Thomas A. Allen (Jasper), William Henry Harrison (Hancock), Thomas Beard (Richmond), William Guilford (Upson), Henry McNeil Turner (Bibb), James Ward Porter (Chatham) and Eli Barnes (Hancock), and State Senators Tunis Campell Sr. (McIntosh, Liberty, and Tattnall) Aaron Alpeoria Bradley (Chatham, Bryan, and Effingham) and George Wallace (Hancock, Baldwin, and Washington).
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the state flag, seal, and other symbols, so as to provide for placement of a monument to honor the Original 33; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
The Issue
In September 1868, just after the Civil war ended, 33 legislators were expelled from the Georgia General Assembly solely because they were black. The end of slavery and the ability for black men to vote opened the door for elected officials of color. This also marked the beginning of voting laws, black codes, and voter intimidation to prevent blacks, including those who were never enslaved, from getting political power.
Due to the involvement of the church, 24 legislators were ministers.
Of the 33 expelled, originally 29 black representatives were removed.
Four members, who were considered mulatto (that is they were less than 1/8 black) held their seats for an additional 10 days before being expelled.
Representative Henry McNeal Turner lobbied the federal government to reinstall the 33 legislators.
One-quarter of the black legislators were killed, threatened, beaten, or jailed. This ultimately led to Democratic victories in 1870.
Remember their names!!
Representatives Philip Joiner (Dougherty), Malcolm Claiborn (Burke), Tunis Campell Jr. (McIntosh), Samuel Williams (Harris), John Warren (Burke), Abraham Smith (Muscogee), Alexander Stone (Jefferson), Alfred Richardson (Clarke), Robert Lumpkin (Macon), Peter O’Neil (Baldwin), George Linder (Laurens), James M. Simms (Chatham), Ulysses L. Houston (Bryan), William A. Golden (Liberty), Samuel Gardner (Warren), F.H. Fyall (Macon), Monday Floyd (Morgan), Madison Davis (Clarke), John T. Costin (Talbot), Romulus Moore (Columbia), Abram Colby (Greene), George H. Clower (Monroe), Edwin Belcher (Wilkes), Thomas A. Allen (Jasper), William Henry Harrison (Hancock), Thomas Beard (Richmond), William Guilford (Upson), Henry McNeil Turner (Bibb), James Ward Porter (Chatham) and Eli Barnes (Hancock), and State Senators Tunis Campell Sr. (McIntosh, Liberty, and Tattnall) Aaron Alpeoria Bradley (Chatham, Bryan, and Effingham) and George Wallace (Hancock, Baldwin, and Washington).
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the state flag, seal, and other symbols, so as to provide for placement of a monument to honor the Original 33; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on February 9, 2021