A Black Lives Matter protester has been charged with assault for hitting a man on the Seaside Heights boardwalk, police say.

They say Jamaal Holmes got into a verbal argument with a 68-year-old man before hitting him.

The man fell to the ground and got a small cut on the back of his head.

The 28-year-old Toms River resident was arrested Sunday.

Holmes alleges that the man was grabbing his mask and says he acted in self defense.