A film charting the fatal shooting that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement is to screen at the Bermuda Industrial Union this evening.

The screening was organised by the family of 20-year-old Bermudian Jahcari Francis who was shot dead on July 19 last year.

Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story is an documentary series about the 2012 shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by neighbourhood member George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida. It is produced by rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z.

The African-American student was unarmed and had been sent to a store by his father, but was challenged by Zimmerman, who claimed to police to be a member of the Neighbourhood Watch.

Based on Florida’s “Stand Your Ground Law”, Zimmerman was acquitted of second degree murder, claiming he killed the teenager in self-defence.

After the verdict, protests broke out across America focusing on race, power and gun control.

The Paramount Network production explores the cultural and societal conditions surrounding the incident and takes an in-depth look at how the not guilty verdict was met.

An aunt of Jahcari Francis told The Royal Gazette: “There are many reasons for this documentary to be shown in Bermuda at this time, but our primary focus is for healing for the families, friends and loved ones.

“When one is able to begin the process of healing then families can truly be restored collectively.”

The Black Lives Matter movement is now a global network whose mission it is to create power to intervene in violence inflicted on black communities.

Speaking of the event that polarised America, one protester in the film said: “Trayvon became the face of our community — we had to go to war for him”.

The first in the docu-series will be screening at the Bermuda Industrial Union at 7pm. It is open to the public and free of charge.

• This story was amended to change the venue to the Bermuda Industrial Union