Harrisburg resident Ernest Perce is staging two protests tomorrow in Harrisburg opposing the fast and prayer rituals Mayor Linda Thompson is participating in to solve the city's debt crisis.

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The first demonstration will take place at noon in front of city hall, said Perce, who is a member of New York City based American Atheists. The second will be at 4 p.m. at Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church, 2447 Green St., where a service ending the three-day fast and prayers is scheduled.

Perce said there will be at least 40 to 50 people at the protests. Another atheist group, Pennsylvania Nonbelievers, which Perce also belongs to, is supporting the event. And American Atheists president David Silverman plans to attend the second protest. Perce said he also invited six area churches to participate because it is not just an event for atheists, it is for people who understand that non-separation of church and state is against the law.

There are many smart people in the city that can work out Harrisburg's debt crisis without introducing fasting and prayers into the process, Perce said.

“It’s an insult to the constitution when separation of church and state is violated,” he said.

Tomorrow's first protest will add to a number of other demonstrations held in front of city hall this year. The first, held on Valentine's Day, and several follow-up events, called for Thompson's resignation.

Area religious leaders and parishioners are participating in the fast that started at 5 p.m. June 21 and ends at 5 p.m. Friday.