Who are Parker Rand Ricciardi and Edward Tomasso?

Today's news was filled with stories about two young men named Parker Rand Ricciardi and Edward Tomasso. Who are they?

Parker Rand Ricciardi

According to Sydney Robertson, Parker Rand Ricciardi is a student at Babson College (outside Boston) who drove a pickup with a Trump sign to Wellesley College to stir up trouble.

Robertson says that Parker Rand Ricciardi and his friend Edward Tomasso drove around the Wellesley, an all-female college, and yelled "TRUMP" and "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN" at young women in the African dormitory.

Robertson further claims that "When one student asked them to leave, they spit in her direction."

She posted several videos of what appear to be Parker Rand Ricciardi and Edward Tomasso.

Here is a video that was purported to have been taken by Ricciardi and Tomasso laughing about the incident.

And here is a video of the incident:

And a photo:

Robertson additionally posted this photo, which appears to be Ricciardi:

According to the photo, he worked at Argand Partners in New York as a summer intern between school years.

Edward Tomasso

Edward Tomasso is another Babson student who Robertson alleges drove with Ricciardi to Wellesley to harass the young female students.

According to The Daily Mail he and Parker Rand Ricciardi were kicked out of their fraternity. Wellesley's president, Paula Johnson wrote this about the incident:

Here's what I can tell you. I've asked Chief Barbin to update me regularly as she continues to collect the facts, and I have full confidence in her and in the investigation. It is critically important that anyone with information contact Chief Barbin immediately at 781-283-2125 or lbarbin@wellesley.edu

President Kerry Healey of Babson has reached out to me directly to offer her apology for the pain and disruption this incident has caused, and she is committed to working with Wellesley to build a more complete picture of the incident. Please know that we will update you as the investigation continues.

During this time, I know we will all hold true to the values that not only give us our strength as a College but that make us a community respected by our peers and beloved by our friends and alumnae. We stand for a path forward for everyone, no matter your race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic background, country of origin, immigration status, or political affiliation. We stand for the pursuit of knowledge that is based in fact. We must expand our ability to have civil discourse that opens our minds and our hearts.

Wellesley is a place where we uphold justice and equity. This is a place where you are valued and celebrated.

The president of Babson wrote an apology for the incident but refused to say what would happen to the students allegedly involved:

Students should never be made to feel fearful or unsafe on their own campus. We wholeheartedly regret that members of our community impacted the Wellesley College community in such a profoundly negative way.

Many of you have questions about how Babson is addressing this issue. We immediately launched an investigation and are thoroughly reviewing all available information. While the investigation is ongoing, we ask members of the Babson and the Wellesley College community to please understand that federal law prohibits us from discussing specific disciplinary actions or outcomes. But, be assured that all appropriate actions are being taken to ensure the safety and well-being of all members of our extended community.

Sydney Robertson posted this photo of a man who appears to be Tomasso:

Edward Tomasso "Apologizes"

According to the Daily Mail, Tomoasso said 'I'm not a racist. I'm not a bigot.

I'm not homophobic,' and that he had 'poor judgement'.

He continued, 'I have perpetuated the fear that exists throughout the world today....That was not my intention and I am deeply sorry that this has happened.

Although I do not support prejudice or discrimination of any kind, I've trivialized the suffering by the hands of those who do.'

A New America

If in fact these men did what Roberton alleges, it is just another of the dozens and dozens of hateful actions performed across the country by people emboldened by the Donald Trump victory.

Yet Trump has said nothing to denounce any of these incidents.

Several racist groups are welcoming a Trump presidency, including the KKK and several White Nationalist groups, so we expect more incidents like this for the remainder of the Trump presidency.