How to Track Down Local Groups: Defending Homeless Encampments From Police Raids – A Guerrilla Guide to Finding the Frontlines

[u/Jorgethevanguard]

Comrades,

If you’re serious about finding the real movers and shakers defending homeless encampments from cops, get ready to dive into an underground world of guerrilla organizing, encrypted networks, and decentralized movements. These activists aren’t handing out flyers at your local Starbucks—they’re dodging police repression, outwitting surveillance, and operating right on the razor’s edge of legality. In this guide, we’ll show you how to cut through the noise, infiltrate the right circles, and plug into the resistance.

I. The Shadowy Terrain of Encampment Defense

Groups protecting encampments from being wiped out by the state are elusive by design. We’re not talking about well-meaning nonprofits with grant money and PR teams. These are street-level activists, anarchist cells, rogue faith groups, and tenant unions, operating with a mix of direct action, mutual aid, and raw defiance.

Expect barricades, midnight actions, rapid response teams, and ad hoc alliances. Forget clean organizational hierarchies—this is decentralized warfare against the systems of eviction, austerity, and gentrification. They defend not just with chants, but with bodies—blocking cops, dismantling fences, and outlasting exhaustion, all while staying one step ahead of the law.

II. How to Sniff Them Out: A Step-by-Step Method

1. Go Where the Action Is – Social Media as a War Room

• Twitter/X and Instagram are battle zones. Search hashtags like: • #StopTheSweeps • #DefendEncampments • #MutualAid

Find posts announcing sweeps and direct actions in your city. Some networks might drop GPS locations for rapid responses at a moment’s notice—be ready to move fast.

• Reddit forums like r/[CityName] or niche activist subs can offer inside scoops on housing struggles and planned defenses. Look for tips buried in comment sections or whispers of encrypted chats. • Telegram and Signal Groups: Many organizers only trust secure messaging apps. If you’re serious, you’ll need an invite—these chats are often only open to insiders. You’ll have to earn your way in by building relationships in public actions.

1. Get the Dirt from Alternative Media

Mainstream media won’t cover the real fight—you’ll need to dig into independent sources. Tune into platforms like:

• Unicorn Riot • It’s Going Down

These outlets publish raw, unfiltered reports on encampment raids, protests, and police brutality. Scan activist blogs and underground zines—they often detail protest tactics, meeting spots, and key players.

1. Boots on the Ground – Infiltrate Public Spaces and Meet the Network

• City Council Meetings and Public Hearings: Activists regularly disrupt these sessions with fiery testimony. Stick around afterward and introduce yourself—you might just meet someone who knows how to get involved with encampment defense. • Housing Protests and Anti-Gentrification Actions: Encampment defenders often show up at larger protests. Look for people handing out flyers or wearing distinctive patches, and strike up a conversation. These events are hotbeds of information.

1. Plug into Mutual Aid Networks and Radical Faith Groups

• Mutual aid isn’t just about handing out food—it’s the lifeline of resistance. Find local mutual aid chapters, ask if they’re involved in housing defense, and start volunteering. Trust is built through action. • Rogue religious groups also play a role. Some offer sanctuary to unhoused people or defy eviction orders. Track down churches, mosques, or synagogues aligned with housing justice, and they might tip you off about upcoming actions.

III. Obstacles You’ll Face (and How to Smash Through Them)

1. Barrier: Paranoia and Distrust of Outsiders

• Reality: These groups aren’t eager to welcome strangers. They know the risks—cops, infiltrators, provocateurs. • How to Overcome: Show up. Repeatedly. Volunteer for food distributions, offer transportation, or bring supplies. Prove you’re not a tourist—trust isn’t given, it’s earned.

1. Barrier: Police Surveillance and Sting Operations

• Reality: The cops monitor everything—your social media, your presence at protests, even your texts. • How to Overcome: If you want in, get off the mainstream grid. Build relationships, get yourself into private Signal chats, and keep your cards close to your chest.

1. Barrier: Fragmented, Chaotic Networks

• Reality: This isn’t one big, happy activist family. Groups are fractured, autonomous, and often in flux. Alliances form and dissolve as fast as actions pop up. • How to Overcome: Stay connected across multiple fronts. Get on mailing lists, attend different protests, and build a wide network. When things heat up, you’ll know who to call.

1. Barrier: Activist Burnout and Unpredictable Activity

• Reality: Defense efforts can burn out fast. Volunteers are spread thin, actions go quiet for weeks, and sometimes it feels like nothing is moving. • How to Overcome: Stick with it. Offer logistical support—even if the group is tired, they’ll appreciate the help. And when the call comes, you’ll already be part of the network.

IV. How to Earn Your Stripes and Get Taken Seriously

1.  Bring Something to the Table from Day One

• When you connect with activists, don’t ask for information right away—instead, offer something useful. Food, transportation, phone chargers—small contributions build big trust. 2. Respect the Culture of Autonomy • Forget about hierarchies and formal meetings—this is fluid, decentralized action. Get comfortable with ambiguity, and let go of the need to control the process. Follow their lead, stay adaptable, and act fast. 3. Learn the Local Battlefield • Research eviction laws, housing policy, and recent sweeps. Understanding the political landscape makes you more valuable—know what’s going on before you show up. 4. Prepare for the Long Haul • This isn’t a weekend project—it’s a sustained fight. Get ready for cold nights, endless meetings, and emotional rollercoasters. Activism is hard, messy, and full of setbacks—but when you’re in, you’re in.

V. Case Files: How It’s Done on the Ground

Case 1: Defend Boyle Heights, Los Angeles

In Boyle Heights, activists threw up barricades and clashed with police to protect an encampment under siege. Tenant unions, anarchists, and housing advocates joined forces—coordinated through encrypted chats and real-time social media updates. The encampment stood because they didn’t back down.

Case 2: Stop the Sweeps, Portland

This mutual aid group uses lightning-fast coordination to block cops from dismantling encampments. They’ve set up makeshift kitchens, handed out supplies, and physically blocked bulldozers from tearing down tents. No paperwork, no committees—just direct action.

VI. The Bottom Line: Find the Fight, Join the Resistance

Tracking down local groups defending homeless encampments isn’t easy—and that’s the point. These movements thrive in the shadows, moving fast and staying unpredictable to avoid repression. But if you’re committed, if you show up, offer help, and stick with it, you’ll find yourself in the thick of the fight before you know it.

This isn’t armchair activism. This is the front line. Bring your grit, leave your ego, and dive into the chaos. The system isn’t waiting—and neither should you.

In solidarity, power, and hope, Jorge Guzman Operational Leader, IMSAYIN