Jessica Juarez, along with other community members, worked tirelessly on Alondra Boulevard Sunday morning, collecting spent gas canisters in a trash bag. The atmosphere echoed with determination, despite Juarez’s hoarse voice as she joined fellow residents in cleaning their neighborhood.
The scene in Paramount, a small city of 54,000 in southeastern Los Angeles County, was somber yet resilient. Parents and neighbors came equipped with plastic bags, latex gloves, and face masks to assist in the cleanup effort.
Residents experienced heightened anxiety following a tense weekend, where law enforcement confronted protesters with gas canisters and flash bang grenades. “I’m proud of our community, of the strength we showed,” Juarez, 40, expressed. “It’s like they put so much fear into Paramount, and for what? These guys didn’t even clean up after themselves.”
The city garnered national attention over the weekend as President Donald Trump’s administration announced the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles. This decision followed two consecutive days of confrontations between protesters and immigration agents amid raids on local businesses.
Tension flared again on Sunday in downtown L.A., drawing more protesters who faced off with federal and local authorities. However, the focus remained on Paramount, a community known for its transformation from a struggling
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-08/paramount-a-proud-l-a-suburb-with-latino-roots-thursh-into-spotlight-with-trump-national-guard-deployment
