More than 100,000 people have signed a petition protesting at the opening of after-school "Satan clubs" in the United States.

The protest came as a school in Washington, Point Defiance Elementary School in Tacoma, became the second in the country to allow an after-school Satan club.

The petition states that the clubs deny the existence of God, reject the idea of eternal punishment for evil or reward for good, foster unconcern for sin and hell and replace Christian charity with atheistic humanitarianism. The petition warns of "danger for children and the future of education" and says: "Satan should not be allowed with our children."

Jennifer Droubay, a mother whose child goes to the school, told the Return to Order campaign: "No one wants this club; we don't want a group that identifies itself with Satan to have access to our children." 

Parents and concerned citizens will be gathering for a prayerful and peaceful protest outside the school next Wednesday.

America's first after-school Satan club opened last month at  Sacramento Elementary School in Portland, Oregon, despite protests and rosary rallies organised by parents, teachers and local Catholics.

Parent Carolyn Carbajal told The News Tribune: "It is just bringing a lot of anxiety to our school. I don't see how it is beneficial to any of our students' families."

The plans for the clubs for children as young as five were announced earlier this year. The clubs are being promoted as an alternative to evangelical Christian after-school activities. Doug Mesner, co-founder of the Satanic Temple, the organisation behind the clubs, said: "It's critical that children understand that there are multiple perspectives on all issues, and that they have a choice in how they think."