Richmond 34

On February 20, 1960, hundreds of Virginia Union University (VUU) students marched to the Broad Street shopping district and sat at “whites only” lunch counters, requesting service. They were refused but remained seated until the counters closed.

On February 22, VUU students marched to Thalhimers Department Store, where 34 students—11 women and 23 men—entered the store, some sitting at the lunch counter and others at the fine dining room. When they refused to leave, they were arrested for trespassing. This marked one of the first mass arrests of the Civil Rights Movement, and the students became known as the “Richmond 34.”

Their arrest sparked the Campaign for Human Dignity, which organized boycotts and picketed segregated businesses. Within a year, Thalhimers integrated its store and became an early advocate for nonviolent retail integration in Richmond.

Sit-ins were a key strategy of nonviolent civil disobedience that helped dismantle segregation and contributed to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, signed into law on July 2, 1964, mandating desegregation in public accommodations.

You can also update the Legacy Weekend section to read, "This year's Richmond 34 Legacy Weekend take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026."

Number Retirement

The Flying Squirrels permanently retired the No. 34 on February 24, 2021. It became the second number retired by the team, joining Jackie Robinson's No. 42, which was retired by Major League Baseball in 1997.

The No. 34 is retired from on-field use to honor the legacy of the Richmond 34, and it is recognized in the ballpark prominently alongside Robinson's No. 42.

Video Archive

Richmond 34 Legacy Weekend

The Flying Squirrels began hosting the “Richmond 34 Legacy Weekend” in 2021 to celebrate the contributions of the Richmond 34 to the Civil Rights Movement as well as other local leaders both past and present who have made contributions in the push for social justice and racial equality.

During the Richmond 34 Legacy Weekend, the Flying Squirrels will wear special Richmond 34 Legacy jerseys, which will be auctioned with proceeds going towards Flying Squirrels Charities & the Richmond 34 Legacy Scholarship Fund.

This year's Richmond 34 Legacy Weekend will take place on Saturday, July 18, 2026.

Richmond 34 Legacy Campaign

Elizabeth Johnson Rice, who was a member of the Richmond 34, serves as a community ambassador for the Flying Squirrels. Rice and the team collaborate on educational and community outreach programs to tell the story of the Richmond 34 as part of the “Richmond 34 Legacy Campaign.”

The official mission of the Richmond 34 Legacy Campaign is “to promote justice, peace, racial equality and diversity by creating innovative and exciting educational opportunities that utilize relevant information from the past to help students understand the present with the purpose of empowering them to advocate for a better future for all people.”

Richmond 34 Legacy Scholarship

To celebrate the legacy of the Richmond 34, the Richmond Flying Squirrels are awarding two scholarships to students from the Greater Richmond area. One (1) $2,000 scholarship, renewable for all four years attending school, to a student attending Virginia State University and one (1) $2,000 renewable scholarship to a student attending Virginia Union University.

Career Advancement & Mentorship Program

In partnership with Virginia State University and Virginia Union University, the Flying Squirrels offer students at both institutions opportunities to gain professional experience working with the organization in various capacities. The programs are designed to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce with the goal of elevating more minorities into leadership positions throughout the professional baseball industry.

Richmond 34

Advancement & Mentorship Program