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Honoring the Legacy of the Richmond 34
66 years after a pivotal sit-in protest, Richmond remembers the courageous students who sparked change.
Published on Mar. 1, 2026
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This Sunday marks the 66th anniversary of the arrest of 34 Virginia Union University students during a sit-in protest at the segregated Thalhimers department store in downtown Richmond. The "Richmond 34" were a pivotal part of the Civil Rights Movement, with their arrests and subsequent court cases helping lead to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Today, the city honors their legacy through historical markers, murals, and annual events.
Why it matters
The Richmond 34 sit-in was a crucial moment in the fight for racial equality and desegregation in Richmond and across the South. Their courageous actions helped catalyze the broader Civil Rights Movement and paved the way for landmark federal legislation. Commemorating their legacy reminds the community of the power of peaceful protest and the ongoing work to achieve racial justice.
The details
In February 1960, over 200 VUU students organized sit-in protests across downtown Richmond, following Martin Luther King Jr.'s visits to the university. When a group of 34 students sat down at the "whites-only" Richmond Room lunch counter at Thalhimers, they were arrested, charged with trespassing, and fined $20 each. This mass arrest was one of the first of the Civil Rights Movement. The students appealed their cases to the Virginia and U.S. Supreme Courts, where their convictions were effectively overturned. Their actions were a key part of the movement leading to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
- On February 22, 1960, 34 VUU students were arrested during a sit-in protest at the Thalhimers department store in Richmond.
- In 2016, several of the Richmond 34 attended a historical marker ceremony honoring their legacy.
- In 2021, the Richmond Flying Squirrels minor league baseball team retired the #34 jersey in tribute to the Richmond 34, the only other retired number being Jackie Robinson's #42.
The players
Virginia Union University (VUU)
A historically Black university in Richmond, Virginia, where the 34 student protesters were enrolled.
Thalhimers
A formerly segregated department store in downtown Richmond where the sit-in protest took place.
Raymond B. Randolph et al.
The 34 VUU students who were arrested and later had their convictions effectively overturned by the Virginia and U.S. Supreme Courts.
Elizabeth Johnson Rice
One of the original Richmond 34 protesters who helped organize the Richmond Flying Squirrels' Legacy Weekend series honoring their legacy.
Andre Shank
The artist who created the "Richmond 34 Legacy" mural above the entrance of the Diamond stadium.
What they’re saying
“Fifty-six years is such an accomplishment in Richmond, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”
— Elizabeth Johnson Rice, Richmond 34 Protester (Instagram)
What’s next
The city of Richmond plans to continue honoring the legacy of the Richmond 34 through ongoing events, historical exhibits, and community education initiatives.
The takeaway
The courageous actions of the Richmond 34 students were a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, helping to catalyze change and pave the way for landmark federal legislation. Their legacy continues to inspire the Richmond community to fight for racial justice and equality.
