‘Rest in Power’ Tells The Story Trayvon Martin Couldn’t

By Sameer Rao Jul 03, 2018

Many people ignored the truth of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin‘s life as they rushed to demonize him during the trial of his killer, vigilante George Zimmerman. His family and supporters now seek to tell a fuller story of his life, and the movement he inspired, in "Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story." The full-length trailer for the six-part docuseries, which Jay-Z executive produced, debuted yesterday (July 2). 

Martin’s parents Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin appear in the documentary series about their son’s life and 2012 death. They and other interviewees illuminate the Black child’s too-short life. The series highlights how Zimmerman used stand-your-ground laws and victim-blaming rhetoric to exonerate himself. It also shows how Martin’s death jumpstarted the Black Lives Matter movement and pushed his parents into grassroots activism.

"Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story" premieres July 30 on Paramount Network and BET.