Participants in a Black Lives Matter event Friday at the Vermont Statehouse appeared to support the presidential candidacy of home-state Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Dozens of activists gathered Friday to call for a racial justice agenda in Vermont, including more hiring of African-American teachers and school administrators and more accountability for state agency hiring practices.

The event occurred a day after Congressman and long-time civil rights leader John Lewis endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, and said he doesn't recall meeting Sanders during key events of the 1960s civil rights era.

Participants including Rajnii Eddins expressed deep respect for Lewis, but said they're less concerned about what people were doing in the 1960s than what they are doing and saying now.

Some credited Sanders with representing Vermont's open style of government.

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