HR 1896: Garvey, Marcus Mosiah; honoring the life and memory; condolences

This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives commemorates Marcus Mosiah Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League. It recounts his 1917 visit to Atlanta's Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and ties his legacy to the broader history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Morris Brown College, and the United Nations' International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, observed each year on March 25. The resolution does not create any new law, funding, or program. It simply states that the House honors Garvey's life and memory as a leader in Pan-African unity and Black dignity, and directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press.

• Formally states that the Georgia House of Representatives honors the life and memory of Marcus Mosiah Garvey.
• Recounts historical background connecting Garvey to Atlanta's Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Methodist Episcopal Church more broadly.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the public and the press.
• Creates no new law, funding, program, or penalty; it is a commemorative statement only.

This resolution mainly affects the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who must prepare and distribute copies. It has symbolic significance for Georgians connected to the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Morris Brown College, and communities honoring Marcus Garvey's legacy.

While the resolution changes no laws, it places the Georgia House on record recognizing Garvey's historical ties to Atlanta and his influence on Pan-African thought, giving public and institutional acknowledgment to this history.

• The preamble (whereas clauses) recounts the UN's International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, observed March 25.
• The preamble describes the founding of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1816 and Morris Brown College in 1881.
• The preamble notes Garvey's March 25, 1917 address at Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta.
• The resolved clause formally honors Garvey's life and memory as a Pan-African leader.
• The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

1. 2026-03-25House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2026-03-25House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-25House Hopper (House)

• Dewey McClain (D, HD-109)Primary sponsor
• Brian Prince (D, HD-132)
• Gabe Okoye (D, HD-102)
• Billy Mitchell (D, HD-088)
• Arlene Beckles (D, HD-096)

• Marcus Garvey
• Georgia history
• Black history
• commemorative resolution
• African Methodist Episcopal Church