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Glitter bombing is an act of protest in which activists throw glitter on people at public events. Glitter bombers have frequently been motivated by, though not limited to, their targets' opposition to same-sex marriage.
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Some legal officials argue glitter bombing is technically assault and battery. It is possible for glitter to enter the eyes or nose and cause damage to the cornea or other soft tissues potentially irritating them or leading to infection, depending on the size of the glitter. Whether a prosecutor would pursue the charges depends on a number of factors.
In 2012, University of Colorado-Boulder student Peter Smith faced up to six months in jail and a fine of $1000 for allegedly glitter bombing presidential candidate Mitt Romney at a Colorado campaign event.
Postal glitter bombs
Glitter bombs can be sent through the post, so that glitter falls from an envelope or is forcefully ejected from a larger, spring-loaded package when opened. In 2015, several websites offered a service where an envelope containing loose glitter could be sent anonymously to a victim.
Response
Former US presidential candidate Mike Huckabee compared glitter bombing to assault and stated, "The people ought to be arrested who did that. That’s an assault."
In fiction
In the Season 3 premiere of Glee, William McKinley High School teacher and Glee Club director Will Schuester glitter bombs cheerleading coach and candidate for the United States House of Representatives Sue Sylvester as a protest against her support for cutting federal funding for the arts in public schools. The tactic backfires, as Sue sees a boost in her poll numbers after the event is posted to YouTube.