The superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland is condemning “racist” and “xenophobic” rhetoric amid backlash following the alleged gang rape of a 14-year-old girl by two illegal immigrant students in a high school bathroom.

Police ramped up their presence at Rockville High School as a precaution on Wednesday after an anonymous caller made threats about shooting illegal immigrants and another threatened to burn down the school, The Washington Post reported.

Authorities determined the threats weren’t credible and declined to cancel classes, MCPS spokesman Derek Turner told Bethesda Magazine.

The school system was thrust to the forefront of the immigration debate this week after 18-year-old Henry Sanchez and 17-year-old Jose Montano were charged with first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree sexual offense. The alleged victim, a 14-year-old female student at Rockville High School, claimed the boys, who are also students at the school, forced her into a bathroom stall and took turns raping her on March 16.

Both Mr. Sanchez and Mr. Montano were reported to have entered the U.S. illegally last year.

Protesters on both sides of the immigration debate have descended on Rockville High School ever since the boys were charged. Mr. Turner said some people have even tracked down the personal email addresses and social media accounts of MCPS staff to harass them, Bethesda Magazine reported.

“We’ve had hundreds of calls that are hate-filled, racist and xenophobic,” Mr. Turner told WTOP. “This is a whole new level of vitriol that we haven’t seen before.”

MCPS Superintendent Jack Smith sent a statement to parents Thursday denouncing the hateful messages.

“While many have chosen to engage civilly in the conversation, far too many have crossed the line with racist, xenophobic calls and emails,” he wrote, Bethesda Magazine reported. “MCPS is working with law enforcement to identify those who are making threats toward our students and schools. This behavior will not be tolerated in our community.”

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