While protesters rallied at the corner of 14th and Broadway last Wednesday, lights in local businesses were dimmed and posters in storefronts read, “closed in solidarity” as private businesses showed their support for the Occupy Oakland movement.

“We absolutely support Occupy Oakland,” said Awaken Café owner Alexander Zendzian.  “We are trying to be the type of business we would like to see, the type of business we can be proud of.”

Demonstrators called for a citywide general strike Nov. 2, insisting businesses close down for the day to display their dedication to the movement.

In attempts to force a halt to the Port of Oakland’s operations, movement leaders encouraged employees to send corporate America a message by skipping work and joining the Occupy Oakland strike force.

“The 99 percent are rising all over the planet,” said movement leader Angela Davis.  “Our unity will show the one percent that we are serious.”

As representatives of the 99 percent over-poured the streets in downtown Oakland chanting, “strike, occupy, shut them down, Oakland is the people’s town,” several local business owners stood in front of their storefronts joining in the vocalizations.

“A lot of consideration went into how we should go about showing our support for the movement,” said Zendzian.  “We decided the best way was to stay open and donate 20 percent of our earnings to the movement.”

Despite the backing from several local businesses along Frank Ogawa Plaza, a growing concern has surfaced that the movement may further harm the economy.

In a town with a 10 percent unemployment rate that has experienced no fluctuation since April 2011, economists say closing down the Port of Oakland and shutting down local businesses for a day can only put a strain on the poor economy.

“We’re losing 300 to 400 jobs on people who decided to not renew their leases or not to come to [downtown Oakland],” said Oakland Mayor Jean Quan at a recent City Hall meeting.

In a recent press release, the City of Oakland expressed their concern for Oakland’s private businesses located in the center of the demonstrations.

At the close of the series of demonstrations, sit-ins and marches throughout the city on Nov. 2, several local businesses were victims of vandalism.  Storefront windows were shattered, fires were set a blaze in the streets and graffiti decorated the walls of local businesses in Frank Ogawa Plaza.

According to the city, since the start of the movement, business leaders and merchants have voiced their concerns regarding the decline in business they have experienced, as well as the concern for the safety of their business and employees.

“The business community is outraged,” said Joseph Haraburda, president of Oakland’s Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce at an Oakland City Hall Meeting.  “We want Occupy Oakland closed.”

Still, amidst the vandalism and speculation that Occupy Oakland may potentially harm the local economy, some local business owners still fully support the movement.

For local business owner Mary Lue, closing shop for the day was a small sacrifice to make for a movement that she believes will initiate change.

“We are in full support of the Occupy movement,” said Lue.  “As they are in support of the local businesses, we are in support of the 99 percent.”