George Zimmerman – the neighbourhood watchman who shot and killed unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin – is selling his artworks in honour of a man who banned Muslims from his shooting range.
Mr Zimmerman, who was acquitted of murdering the 17-year-old in 2012, has reportedly been painting since he found himself at the centre of a national debate about race and discrimination.
In 2013, Mr Zimmerman sold a painting of a blue-tinted American flag with the words "God/ One nation/ With liberty and justice for all," for more than $100,000.
George Zimmerman during his 2012 trial
Reports say that this time is he is raffling a painting of the Confederate flag to raise funds to support gun store owner Andy Hallinan.
“This painting was painted in honour of Andy Hallinan for being a true patriot and leading the country into a better, safer America,” says a post on Mr Hallinan’s website.
Mr Hallinan made headlines last month when he announced that his Florida Gun Supply shooting range was closed to Muslims. He said he would not allow them to visit as he “would not arm and train those who wish to do harm to my fellow patriots”.
He made the declaration that he had “a moral and legal responsibility’ to take action days after a Muslim-American man went on a shooting spree at Chattanooga military facilities, killing four Marines and a member of the Navy.
Andy Hallinan refused to allow Muslims enter his gun range
Mr Hallinan has subsequently been sued by the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Mr Zimmerman is selling prints of the original Confederate flag painting for $50 online, each of which is signed and numbered by him.
By purchasing a print, the buyer is entered into a raffle to win the original, which the website claims could be worth $100,000.
Mr Zimmerman said: “The first flag I painted on this canvas was an American flag, but I decided to repaint over it with the Confederate flag when I heard Andy was getting sued by [the Council on American-Islamic Relations].”
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