AUBURN, MI -- Bay City Western High School closed today because of a threat made after two days of demonstrations involving Confederate flags flying from trucks parked outside the high school.

Superintendent Stephen Bigelow said he was called after 6 a.m. on Thursday, April 19, because of rumors people were coming to the high school to confront other students. Bay City Western Middle School, which is connected to the high school, is also closed.

He said he made the decision to cancel school today because of the potential threat.

"We closed down because safety first," Bigelow said. "We have to get to the bottom of what these rumors are."

There were six vehicles bearing the Confederate flag parked along Bryant Boulevard, on Tuesday, April 17, adjacent to the school at 500 W. Midland Road in Auburn.

Bigelow said he didn't know for sure if the threat was related because he was still working with police to figure out who made the threat.

"That's my guess," Bigelow said of the threat being associated with the Confederate flag display. "That is what I'm assuming, but I don't even know that."

Bigelow said there isn't a whole lot he could do from a disciplinary standpoint in terms of the Confederate flag display because it was not on school property and due to freedom of speech protections.

However, students who were caught skipping school were disciplined, Bigelow said.

He also said if the district is taking disciplinary action if there are racial comments being made to others in school.