ity to oppose U.S. policies. By Martha Woodall Inquirer Staff Writer

While dignitaries marked the opening of the new National Constitution Center yesterday, several thousand of the hoi polloi marked the Fourth with a noisy, upbeat antiwar rally a block away at Franklin Square.

Afterward, in a march that snaked through the hot Center City streets, 3,000 to 5,000 demonstrators shook placards to a steady drumbeat and chanted: "Stop the crazy son of a Bush! Stop the war now!"

When the protest originally was scheduled, President Bush was expected to attend the Constitution Center's opening. He later decided to skip the celebration, but organizers went ahead with their plans.

The event attracted veterans of the antiwar movement, college students, and parents pushing children in strollers.

"We think there was a lot of diversity," said Phoebe Schellenberg, a spokeswoman for the nearly 20 groups that organized the event. "We were really pleased because we are trying to say it is people from all walks of life who are opposing these policies."

Speakers and demonstrators lambasted not only the war in Iraq, but also Bush's foreign policy and domestic agenda.

Charles Sherrouse, a Northeast Philadelphia resident and member of the Green Party, said the administration had watered down the Constitution. He and others said the USA Patriot Act, which increased the federal government's surveillance powers after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, was unconstitutional. It "is really reminiscent of the McCarthy days. It's taking away our rights of free speech," said Franny Breen of Center City, another Green Party member. To illustrate the point, a huge puppet of Bush feeding the Bill of Rights into a paper shredder was stationed at the rally-site entrance with a sign reading: "Defend our rights, repeal the Patriot Act now."

"This is a way to exercise the rights that we have," said Candace Olkus of East Mount Airy, who attended the rally with her husband, Shane, and daughters Alex, 10, and Sage, 6.

Deirdre Giswold drove to Philadelphia from New York City with a friend. "In essence, it's not just Bush," she said. "These issues are important if he is here or he's not... . Wherever he is today, maybe he'll hear us."

There also were pleas for Green Party support, calls for ending the death penalty, and speeches demanding the release of Mumia Abu-Jamal from Pennsylvania's death row.

No incidents were reported at the rally. Police said two demonstrators from the Kensington Welfare Rights Union were arrested later when they tried to force their way into the Constitution Center without tickets.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------