In Center City, a group of about 100 youthful protesters rallied at noon at City Hall before marching to the Immigration and Naturalization Service office at 16th and Callowhill Streets.
"We won't be silenced. We won't be tamed. This war in Iraq is not in our name," protesters chanted.
Upon returning to Dilworth Plaza on the west side of City Hall, protesters staged a "die-in," collapsing to the ground "to represent what it looks like in Iraq right now," said protester Ami Verrill, 19, a University of the Arts student.
Sarah Kodish-Eskind, 16, of West Philadelphia, came with her sister Ruth, 12, and her mother.
Kodish-Eskind left Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts in South Philadelphia to attend the rally, and her sister walked out of Masterman School on Spring Garden Street.
"I don't think we have any reason to be going to war with Iraq," Kodish-Eskind said. "I think it's terrible.
"Nobody should be bombed."
Three students from Cheltenham High School, who had participated in Thursday's walkout at their school and attended a Center City demonstration that night, said they cut school yesterday to continue protesting the war.
"Our parents are all for this," said Elisabeth Bomstein, 17, a junior.
Bomstein and the other demonstrators drew jeers from some pedestrians and prompted one South Philadelphia man, who would not give his name, to engage in a one-man counterprotest.
"You are all traitors! Traitors to your country," bellowed the man through a bullhorn.
At evening rush hour, a second City Hall protest drew a wide variety of protesters representing diverse interests, including opposition to police brutality and support for Third World self-determination.
"It's not just for peace," said Alison Hoehne of the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement.
