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An Iowa man is facing hate crime charges after he was arrested on Sunday for fighting with a Black man.

Andy Benavidez of Iowa City was wearing a surgical mask when police discovered him fighting the other man, and told police he wore the mask because he was “allergic to Black people,” local outlet KGAN reports.

Benavidez, 47, was charged with assault – violation of individual rights after admitting the only reason he attacked the man was because of his race. The man Benavidez fought said he was called racial slurs and was hit first, thus prompting the unnamed individual to defend himself.

Police documents further said Benavidez told officers he donned the mask because he didn’t want to catch the germs of Black people.

SOURCE: WGAN | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty | VIDEO CREDIT: WGAN

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Iowa Man Who Said He Was Allerigic To Black People Arrested For Hate Crime  was originally published on newsone.com