Georgia Legislative Black Caucus honors the 'Original 33'

ATLANTA - The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus commemorated the first black legislators in the state under the Gold Dome on Thursday morning.

It’s a group the caucus calls the "Original 33," a group of 33 black lawmakers who served in the Georgia General Assembly back in the 1860s.

The Original 33 were expelled from the Georgia Legislature in September of 1868 because of their skin color.

Thursday’s commemoration ceremony also coincides with the first day of Black History Month.

The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus said they will hold another celebration of the Original 33 later in the month.