Black Lives Matter' has become an important statement phrase for many following the death of an African-American man called George Floyd, But it was first used widely back in 2013 after a teenage boy called Trayvon Martin was killed by a neighbourhood watch volunteer who did not face any punishment.

Lots of people took part in protests following Trayvon's death and many turned to social media to speak out against what had happened.

They felt upset about the injustice that was taking place in America and wanted to express their anger that that the lives of black people did not have the same value as other people's lives. This led to the birth of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.

Since then, as well as a phrase of support, Black Lives Matter has grown into a campaigning organisation too.

Ged Grebby is the chief executive of the charity Show Racism The Red Card, he told Newsround that the Black Lives Matter movement was established in reaction to black people in the US being over three times more likely than white people to be killed by a police officer, according to figures published by the American Journal of Public Health.

"It is a movement for equality and against racism" he said.

The police brutality that was happening made black people feel "their lives simply did not matter" says ex-footballer and honorary president of Show Racism The Red Card, Shaka Hislop.

Since the events of 2013, more incidents have taken place across America and other parts of the world which have led to increasing calls for the protection of black lives.

The discrimination black people face dates all the way back to slavery and colonialism and many charities and campaign groups have been challenging racial inequality for years. However, racism still affects many black people today.

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