OMG My Computer Hates Me!: LA High Schoolers Fight Back Against Neighboring E-Waste Dumpsite, 2002-2023

This video story is a shallow dive into the computer life cycle. It explores the manufacutring process of an electronic device, getting the product to a shelf-ready state, and then the purchasing of the machine by the consumer. It then differentiates between healthy and harmful electronic waste practices and explains how poor e-waste recycling can pose harms to enviornment

I. Introduction

For the average American high school girl, one of her worser days may begin by getting the fogged-up window seat on her morning bus ride just to be confronted with a pop quiz during first period. Maybe she has to stand in a painfully long line for the water fountain after gym class. Perhaps during afterschool softball practice, she takes a fall while running the bases. However, for Genesis Cruz, alumna of Jordan High School in Watts, Los Angelos this nightmare school day would instead be considered a day worth good note. Instead of mere foggy glass, Cruz’s morning commute would be tainted by views of metal scrap mounds. Her pop quiz would be interrupted by thundering bulldozers and timed explosions. Rather than waiting in line for a sip of water, she would carry on parched as the drinking fountain has been labeled “Out of Order” for lead contamination. Her softball practices would be cancelled for the remainder of the season because the field has been closed due to metal projectiles flying onto the sand.[1] For Genesis Cruz and the other hundreds of students at Jordan High School, the promised and deserved American high school experience has been stripped from them at the hands of Atlas Iron & Metal Co., the electronic waste recycling site next door of school grounds.

Founded in 1949 by father-son duo Gary and Matthew Weisenberg, Atlas Iron opened adjacent to Jordan High School and, over time, began disrupting and even endangering student life with their unethical operational practices.[2] The basic necessity of pure and clean drinking water was denied of Jordan High students by Atlas along with their security in bodily safety walking around campus. Atlas’ improper disposal of electronics involved haphazardly dismantling and burning metals which resulted in toxin contamination of groundwater and stray pieces of metal flying over the dividing fence, putting students at risk on a daily basis.[3] Importantly, also at risk was the students’ educational value. Abrasive noises from metal crushing and heavy machinery cut into lecture and test-taking time for students, dampening what should have been a focused learning environment.[4] Jordan High students could not ignore the fact that Atlas was jeopardizing their experiences as students and people, so in 2020, they began to fight for their environment, health, and education.

Despite being young in the low-income, minority populated neighborhood of Watts, LA, the students of Jordan High School triumphed in their fight against Atlas by gaining support from their community, leading protests, and gaining traction in the media; a relatively remarkable triumph when also considering the deep-set roots technology has established for itself in everyday life. Working 14-hour long shifts during the day, struggling to communicate over Spanish-English language barriers, and lacking a standard education made it difficult, if not impossible, for Jordan High parents to show their children their support during the fight back.[5] [6] Students recognized it was up to them to shine the light on Atlas’ poor practices and bring justice to themselves, they recognized it was up to them to gain the proper backing to do so. Working with local support systems, organizing amongst themselves, and capturing the attention of news media outlets was the students’ plan to success that led to the eventual closure and criminal prosecution of Atlas Iron & Metal Co..[7]

This essay is an exploration of how the underdogs at Jordan High have prevailed. It begins by establishing what makes the underdog the underdog – the racial, financial, and political demographics of Jordan High School students and then continues to introduce next-door neighbor Atlas Iron’s 53 years of poor operating before student action was taken in 2002. It next examines how students of the past decade have gathered support from Watts citizens, local student advocacy organizations, as well as teachers, school administrators, and government officials. Then, it demonstrates what students have done with said support, highlighting the protests hosted on school and Atlas grounds in addition to demands of action written in letter and sent to city leaders. Finally, the paper covers the students’ biggest source of public outreach via news channels and social media platforms, emphasizing the strategy behind their coverage. These three components together made Jordan High students victorious in their long-wagered battle against the e-waste recycling plant despite the growth of the technological age and its integration into American school systems.

     II. Background

Before the methods implored by Jordan High students in their fight back against Atlas Iron could be understood, the demographic background of Watts, LA and its integral role in the roots of this battle must first be established. Within one mile of Jordan High School, 98% of the population is of a minority race with 88% descending from Hispanic or Latino backgrounds and 10% having African American roots. The heart of Watts also sees 97% of households primarily communicating in Spanish with limited English-speaking capabilities.[8] Aside from statistics alone, Watts has been characterized as the “ the epicenter of Los Angeles’ working class history,” attesting to the long hours worked by parents of Jordan High Students.[9] Unfortunately, these neighborhood-identifying factors have worked against Jordan High students in their pursuit of academic excellence as school administrators doubted their ability to take on educational rigor. Students at Jordan High were thought to lack discipline, work ethic, and competency levels of the average high schooler before ever even stepping foot into the classroom.[10] Naturally, these perceptions were recognized by the students as they understood non-residents thought of Watts as a crime-ridden violent neighborhood, home to gangsters and those living in poverty. Despite this knowledge, students at Jordan High define themselves not by the crime or poverty rates, but instead by the culture and hardworking nature that thrives in Watts. They see Watts as a place for a new generation of intelligent, capable young minds such as themselves to grow into their full potential.[11] Jordan High students of today understand that being from Watts means having to fight harder for personal and educational rights, just as Jordan High students of yesterday knew too well.

Jordan High students in the 2020’s led their fight against Atlas Iron on a foundation of LA youth activism built by students of generations before them. In March of 1968, students of Garfield High School in East Los Angeles hosted a walkout demanding change to their unkept campus environment, lack of college-readiness, poor teaching faculty, and exposure to police brutality. This protest not only raised awareness for LA high school’s need for educational resources, but was also asserted that students of color can influence politics and their academic environment – ultimately serving as a catalyst for the Chicano Movement.[12] The self-advocation that came from Latinx Los Angeles students in 1968 paved the way for students in the coming years to defend their education and, in turn, their political power when the ‘grown-ups’ around them failed to do so. As this applies to Atlas, the Department of Toxic Substances Control provided a detailed plan for the final stage in a four-step clean-up process in 2008 after finding alarmingly high levels of copper, lead, and zinc in school soil as a result of the neighboring recycling plant’s work. This plan included importation of clean soil for Jordan High as well as the construction of a ten-foot-high fence on the borderline between the two facilities – both of which are measures meant to preserve the future of Jordan students.[13] Despite the attempts by government departments around them, the students co-existed with Atlas and its disruptive nature for another 17 years, only being able to make significant change when they took matters into their own hands.

     III. Support from the Watts Community

One of the biggest supportive pillars in Jordan High School students’ fight back against Atlas Iron was the formation of nonprofit student advocacy organizations. OurTurnCA is one of these organizations that facilitates political exposure, protesting resources, and community support for students looking to stand up for their educational equity. The group has onboarded dozens of student activists passionate about closing Atlas Iron and has given them the opportunity to address the LA Schools Board of Education about stopping the contamination and pollution to their school grounds, one of the most influential moves in the Atlas fight alongside the first-day-of-school protests also supported by OurTurnCA.[14] The Coalition for Healthy Families is another organization that has immensely progressed the fight Jordan students were taking on. By banding together community members, schoolteachers, and students alike, the Coalition has shined the spotlight on the dangers of Atlas by collecting, documenting, and reporting on the alarmingly harmful actions. Their recordings of untimely explosions, maps of affected zones, and photos of EPA research done on the site have all been compiled and presented via a website dedicated to the journey of the fight.[15] These two organizations were driving forces in the students’ triumphant one step towards educational and environmental equality, a success story only made possible by the community as a whole.

The unified nature of Watts means students were surrounded by parents, neighbors, and average residents who cared about their educational quality and their human health, leading to their quick support in the students’ fight back against Atlas. Because of the well-established rapport organizations like OurTurnCA and The Coalition for Healthy Families had with LA Schools and with Watts as a whole, one of the most powerful ways community members could support the youth was by being an active participant in these groups. OurTurnCA helped students identify community members willing to be interviewed about the Atlas recycling plant and the harms it has caused to the community, a powerful testimony showing that Atlas’ impacts extend beyond just their immediate physical area.[16] Even residents not directly involved with the organizations through member status have shown their support by commenting, liking, and reposting the groups’ content about protests and government hearings to further amplify their message.[17] Doing this not only shows their personal investment in the students’ fight, but demonstrates their inclination to gain more traction from the community, forcing public pressure onto political decision-makers. Eventually, these efforts worked and teachers, school administrators, and county officials partook in the fight, using their standing with the Board of Education and the city to bring attention to the students’ pleas.

Jordan students have harnessed the support gained from their immediate community with a primary objective of demanding the attention of politically and educationally powerful figures as they can the most to help them achieve their final goal of closing Atlas’ e-waste recycling plant. The first supporters came from inside the high school itself alongside the students – the teachers who have been subjected to the same environmental and health harms as the students and can relate to their struggles firsthand. Camille Sosa, a physical education teacher at Jordan, was at the heart of the Coalition for Healthy Families and was recognized as one of their most integral board members.[18] Other instructors stood by the side of student activists at their first-day-of-school protest, passing out informational pamphlets about the harms of Atlas’ practices to those walking into the building.[19] This first step of support from the teachers encourage not only the onlookers, but also the students themselves to take this fight seriously; the presence and advocacy from adults acts as a reassurance that this is a cause worth seeing through to the end. As the local administrators began speaking publicly on Atlas, they paid special attention to credit the students with their hard work and efforts. Carlos Torres, responsible for the environmental health and safety of the LA School district, highlighted that student voices resonate most with the public and targets and that their dialogue has expedited outreach in an interview with Eyewitness News.[20] Even during his press release announcing the victorious closing of Atlas, LA District Attorney invited Jordan High School freshman Andrew Anderson to speak on behalf of the Watts youth, and subsequently paid tribute to the students’ ability to “challenge injustices throughout [their] society,” remarking on the root of their success journey.[21]

     IV. Protesting against Atlas

As students returned to the gates of Jordan High School on August 15, 2022 eager to start the new academic year, they were greeted with a blunt, eye-opening reminder that they were not just returning back to a school, but a contamination zone. Students approached to see a bright yellow banner reminding them that their school environment “is not normal” held up high by their classroom peers, parents, teachers, and school administrators associated with the Coalition for Healthy Families.[22] By holding up their signs in front the Jordan High doors, the activists seem to be, in a way, standing to protect their school and education – demanding attention to the environmental crisis before entry. By making such a bold move on what should be a joyous first-day, these advocates are reminding their peers and teachers that this is not particularly a happy time as their academic experience is being jeopardized by Atlas. Not only did this event encourage more students to stand in solidarity with their peers, but also earned them national support by being covered on CBS, FOX, ABC, LA Times, Spectrum, Yahoo!, and many more news channels.[23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]While this first-day-of-class movement acted as one of the biggest catalysts for gaining traction in forward progress, it was not the only protest Jordan High School students would conduct in the 2022-2023 academic year.

After their initial first-day protest in August, months of social media advocacy, and tireless self-organizing, Jordan students decided it was time for them to organize another protest as they have had yet to see any resolution. Whereas their August 15^th, 2022 protest in front of Jordan High School sent a clear message about protecting their educational environment or playing defense, the students’ January 30^th, 2023 protest in front of the Atlas facility seemed to focus more on the health hazards posed by the plant, shifting gears to offense.[29] Even the language on their protesting signs begin to show their tolerance for inequality is being stretched thin – we see none of the “Stop Poising our Students” demands and much more of the “Atlas Must Go!!!” messages on January 30^th.[30] This focus change also serves to remind Watts residents who have yet to join the fight that they too are being impacted by Atlas – this fight is not just about the education of the students, but the health of the Watts community as a whole – it is everyone’s problem! While these two walkouts were powerful demonstrations affirming the unity and tenacity of LA youth, they have also showed they can assert their persistence by contacting city and government leaders directly.

As a sure way to get their message to their target audience, Los Angeles students wrote several letters to government officials on all authoritative levels, from the LA District Attorney to the President of the United States. Near the end of the 2021-2022 school year, 100 Jordan High School students came together to write a letter to city leaders, demanding action towards a safer school for its student and staff bodies. They also addressed more government agencies vested in environmental and human health safety including the Department of Toxic Substances Control, the Environment Protection Agency, and the LA Departments of Public Health and Building Safety hoping to intervention from these powerful public resources.[31] The extent of their written work does not end in 2022; students worked with the Coalition for Healthy Families to address Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and then United States President Joe Biden asserting that “[i]t is time to bring this injustice to an end, and it’s time to inject significant resources into this community and others to right decades of chemical poisoning and neglect,” in May of 2023.[32] [33] Bringing this problem from the neighborhood of Watts, LA to the White House mailbox reveals students desperation for change in their community and the lengths they will go through to see that change come to fruition.

     V. Media Coverage

The community support and protests organized by the students were ultimately efforts to increase public pressure on city leaders to close Atlas’ electronic waste recycling plant, but this goal could only be achieved by putting eyes on the students’ fight through media coverage, making publicity an intermediate goal in their success plan. Genesis Cruz’s interview with Eyewitness News’ Marc Brown in September of 2022 tugged on the heart strings of those unfamiliar with the struggles of living in Watts. One of her main messages is that the inequality faced in South Los Angeles would not be seen in the primarily white, affluent Malibu. Although both neighborhoods in LA with similar environmental conditions, the recycling plant was placed in Watts, left to contaminate the schools, homes, and health of its minority, low-income residents. Not only were Watts students disadvantaged by the initial placement of the e-waste center, but also in their privilege to fight back after its establishment. Cruz shares with America that parents of Jordan students struggle to communicate in English and spend their days at work, impairing their ability to advocate for their children, leaving it up to the students themselves.[34] It is touching for viewers at home to hear young Genesis Cruz speak of the unfair obstacles placed in the way of her educational success merely because she is from Watts – she should not have to fight for a focused learning environment, yet she does.

Student voice has been heard nationwide due, in part, to the media’s thorough coverage of their education and environmental justice journey. News channels have not shied away from scrutinizing government officials and Atlas Iron for allowing the students’ fight to persist this long. The tone in headlines like “Jordan High students see no resolution,” “Frustration rises as explosions continue,” and “Decades of neglect … yields no results” all seem to pass judgement on the lack of effort to close Atlas despite students’ tireless efforts.[35] [36] [37] This, in combination with what appears to be media coverage at virtually every protest, press release, or motion regarding Atlas urges the attention of decision-makers, demanding action of them. Furthermore, nearly every single one of these articles make a point to establish the disenfranchised state of Watts, questioning how, “in a community that’s already impacted by low income,” could Atlas exist next to Jordan High School.[38] Luckily, the modern age of technology has relieved the news outlets of being the only source of national outreach, allowing advocates to spread the word themselves via social media.

In order to engage activists from all ages, ethnic backgrounds, geographic locations, etc., organizations and individuals passionate about change in Jordan Downs have made strides across Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Nonprofit organizations Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC), the Latino Coalition of Los Angeles, and OurTurnCA have all encouraged protest participation from residents, interviewed youth activists, and publicized environmentally dangerous statistics on their respective Instagram and Facebook pages, not only spreads awareness about Jordan’s fight, but also awards students the credit for their efforts.[39] [40] [41] [42] Jordan has also reached out to news outlets like the LA Times to get their content published to YouTube, most notably a video production of their class-written poems reflecting on the struggles of living in the shadow of Watts stereotypes, but choosing instead to celebrate its culture.[43] Together, these social media posts accumulate to thousands of views, serving as a central movement in Jordan High’s victory against Atlas Iron.

     VI. Electronic Usage and Waste

The electronic waste recycling plant that the Watts youth fought so relentlessly against was a product of improper e-waste disposal and a misunderstanding in the computer life cycle. In computer manufacturing, heavy metals like lead and lithium become the heart of the machine’s circuit board, batteries, displays, and cords, components which are all assembled into shelf-ready devices.[44] Unfortunately, the consumerism pushed by large technology companies encourages users to keep up to date with the newest models of their smartphones, laptops, and tablets translating to hundreds of thousands of electronic devices being discarded each year.[45] After being discarded, electronics should be deposited into an e-waste drop box to be collected by a recycling company that will dismantle the metals, plastics, and contaminants and send them to facilities dedicated to their repurposing.[46] However, some individuals and companies, including Atlas Iron & Metal Co. pursue a more unethical approach. Borderless construction zones resulting in stray metal projectiles, underground burials leading to excessive concentration of lead and seven other heavy metals, and incineration by explosion of items were all practices of Atlas that demonstrated not only poor, but dangerous and fatal electronic waste disposal.[47] These damages manifest as groundwater contamination, toxic soil levels, and particulate matter inhalation for surrounding areas like Jordan High students and staff.[48]

With the electronic takeover of American public-school systems, a kind of irony can be seen in the high schoolers fighting against an electronic waste recycling plant while systematically having to partake in the problem, whether they like to or not. As of 2025, it is projected that 93% of United States school districts will be purchasing Chromebook laptops at a 1:1 ratio for each of their students, an unsurprising statistic relative to the 95% of American public-school districts that have adopted a Learning Management Software like Canvas, Google Classroom, or Moodle for their students to submit work digitally.[49] [50] As the Los Angeles Unified School district has followed suit, students at Jordan High School are virtually left with no choice to succumb to technological indulgence.[51] It is hard to watch students work so closely with electronics in their academics and then fight against those same electronics because they impair those same academics. Complete immersion of electronics in LA schools makes it virtually impossible for students to boycott electronics without sacrificing their academic future, making them almost compliant to the very behaviors they have worked so hard to fight against.

     VII. Conclusion

Thanks to the perseverance of Watts youth to see educational and environmental equality in their neighborhoods, Genesis Cruz no longer faces mounds of metal scraps on her morning commute to Jordan High. She can focus on her pop-quiz as a peaceful silence has replaced the grating metal and explosions from the previous year. She can adequately hydrate herself as the ‘Out of Order’ sign has been removed from the water fountain and she can practice her home run-worthy batting hit on the reopened softball field. Because of the passion in student activists like Cruz, Jordan High School has triumphed in their fight against Atlas Iron & Metal Co.’s e-waste recycling plant, establishing their deserved American education that was robbed from them 75 years earlier by the plant’s opening.

The young activists’ story was made one of success thanks to their persistence in advocacy, capturing the attention of government officials who were able to sue and close down the Atlas recycling plant with 22 felony charges brough against them.[52] Their biggest pillar of support was the people surrounding them: their friends, families, teachers, and neighbors in Watts who empathized with their battle and even felt the harms themselves. From these community members rose youth activism groups to support students in their fight in many ways, one of which was through protest organization. Their headline-worthy first day of class protest accompanied by their numerous letters to city leaders demanding action for safer schools, showed students’ were ready to take daring approaches to seeing results. These bold movements quickly caught the attention of the media who provided thorough coverage on every move made by the student advocates, detailing their fight against Atlas from it’s beginning to it’s victorious ending.

As technology further immerses itself in our day-to-day lives, the responsibility to maintain our environmental and human health falls onto you and I. Making yourself and those around you aware of your nearest e-waste drop off sites, the dangers of improper disposal, and the negative influences of electronic consumerism can prevent you from having to fight a battle similar to that wagered by Jordan High School students. The harms Atlas posed to its surrounding areas serves as a cautionary tale in regards to electronic waste, but the courage and integrity demonstrated by the youth of Watts serves as an inspiration to students everywhere – despite their history of educational and environmental inequality, they were able to persevere in the face of adversity just as young learners everywhere can attempt to do.

[1] Marc Brown, “Eyewitness Newsmakers Examines Environmental Hazards at Jordan High School in Watts,” ABC7 Los Angeles, September 4, 2022, https://abc7.com/post/newsmakers-watts-toxic-marc-brown-water-lead-jordan-high-school/12191014/.

[2] Media Relations Division, “Atlas Iron and Metal Sentenced to Pay $2 Million, Shut Down Operations Following Felony Conviction,” LA County District Attorney’s Office, October 22, 2025, https://da.lacounty.gov/media/news/atlas-iron-and-metal-sentenced-pay-2-million-shut-down-operations-following-felony.

[3] “Toxic Metal Recycler Shuttered after Felony Waste Disposal Conviction – WestsideToday,” Brentwood News, May 26, 2025, https://westsidetoday.com/2025/05/26/toxic-metal-recycler-shuttered-after-felony-waste-disposal-conviction/.

[4] Marc Brown, “Eyewitness Newsmakers Examines Environmental Hazards at Jordan High School in Watts,” ABC7 Los Angeles, September 4, 2022, https://abc7.com/post/newsmakers-watts-toxic-marc-brown-water-lead-jordan-high-school/12191014/.

[5] Marc Brown, “Eyewitness Newsmakers Examines Environmental Hazards at Jordan High School in Watts,” ABC7 Los Angeles, September 4, 2022, https://abc7.com/post/newsmakers-watts-toxic-marc-brown-water-lead-jordan-high-school/12191014/.

[6] Oberjuerge, Mark, “Raising the Bar: Historically Disadvantaged Students Can Meet the AP Challenge.” The History Teacher 32, no. 2 (1999): 263–67. https://doi.org/10.2307/494446.

[7] County Of Los Angeles, “County of Los Angeles,” COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, May 20, 2025, https://lacounty.gov/2025/05/20/district-attorney-hochman-announces-atlas-iron-and-metal-corp-shutting-down-permanently-after-pleading-no-contest-to-hazardous-waste-violations/.

[8] EJScreen, accessed December 18, 2025, https://pedp-ejscreen.azurewebsites.net/.

[9] “Watts,” PBS SoCal, February 4, 2016, https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/departures/watts.

[10] Oberjuerge, Mark, “Raising the Bar: Historically Disadvantaged Students Can Meet the AP Challenge.” The History Teacher 32, no. 2 (1999): 263–67. https://doi.org/10.2307/494446.

[11] LA Times Studios, “Jordan High Seniors Ask You to Take Their View of Watts. So They Sent the L.A. Times a Poem about It,” YouTube, September 16, 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbPOLRix2Qs.

[12] Suria-Linares, Jack and Maurice Isserman. “Too Young to Vote; Old enough to Protest-the East LA Walkouts.” Democratic Left, Summer, 2018, 12, https://www.proquest.com/magazines/too-young-vote-old-enough-protest-east-la/docview/2058262141/se-2.

[13] Department of Toxic Substances Control, “Final Phase of Cleanup Activities at S&W Atlas Iron and Metal Company, Inc.,” California Department of Toxic Substances Control , December 12, 2007, https://dtsc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2018/01/SW_Atlas_vol_1.pdf.

[14]  OurTurnCA, “Our Turn California,” Instagram, accessed December 18, 2025, https://www.instagram.com/ourturnca/.

[15] “The Danger: Citizens for Healthy Kids and Environmental Justice in Watts,” Watts, accessed December 18, 2025, https://www.healthyfamiliesla.org/thedanger.

[16] OurTurnCA, “Our Turn California,” Instagram, accessed December 18, 2025, https://www.instagram.com/ourturnca/.

[17]  OurTurnCA, “Our Turn California,” Instagram, accessed December 18, 2025, https://www.instagram.com/p/ChU-Clqp58h/?img_index=1

[18]  “Environmental Justice: Coalition for Healthy Families,” Watts, accessed December 18, 2025, https://www.healthyfamiliesla.org/.

[19] FOX 11, “Students Hold Protest over Lead Levels at Jordan High School in Watts,” FOX 11 Los Angeles, August 15, 2022, https://www.foxla.com/news/students-hold-protest-over-lead-levels-at-jordan-high-school.

[20] Marc Brown, “Eyewitness Newsmakers Examines Environmental Hazards at Jordan High School in Watts,” ABC7 Los Angeles, September 4, 2022, https://abc7.com/post/newsmakers-watts-toxic-marc-brown-water-lead-jordan-high-school/12191014/.

[21] LADA, “LADA Announces Atlas Iron & Metal Corp. Shuts Down After No Contest Plea to Environmental Violations,” YouTube, May 20, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHWeDUaoKNo.

[22]  “Jordan High Students Start out the School Year Protesting Neighboring Metal Recycler,” CBS News, August 15, 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/jordan-high-students-start-school-year-protesting-neighboring-metal-recycler-atlas-metals/.

[23] “Jordan High Students Start out the School Year Protesting Neighboring Metal Recycler,” CBS News, August 15, 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/jordan-high-students-start-school-year-protesting-neighboring-metal-recycler-atlas-metals/.

[24] FOX 11, “Students Hold Protest over Lead Levels at Jordan High School in Watts,” FOX 11 Los Angeles, August 15, 2022, https://www.foxla.com/news/students-hold-protest-over-lead-levels-at-jordan-high-school.

[25] Anabel Munoz, “Metal Recycling Site in Watts Closing Permanently after Years-Long Fight by Neighbors and Students,” ABC7 Los Angeles, May 21, 2025, https://abc7.com/post/atlas-iron-metal-watts-closing-permanently-years-long-fight-neighbors-jordan-high-school-students/16487311/.

[26] “Metal Recycling Plant Accused of Exposing Watts High School Students to Explosions, Toxic Waste,” Los Angeles Times, September 27, 2024, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-09-26/metal-recycling-plant-accused-of-exposing-watts-high-school-students-to-explosions-toxic-waste.

[27] “Watts Company Pleads No Contest to Felony Charges in Hazardous Waste Case,” Watts company pleads no contest in hazardous waste case, May 20, 2025, https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/southern-california/crime/2025/05/20/s-w-atlas-iron-and-metal-co–inc–watts-hazardous-waste-case.

[28] “Outcry over Recycling Plant next to Watts High School Appears to Gain Traction,” Yahoo! News, June 3, 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/news/outcry-over-recycling-plant-next-120037484.html.

[29] Marissa Wenzke, “Atlas Metal Owners Jailed, Held without Bail on Charges Tied to Watts Explosion near School,” CBS News, March 15, 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/atlas-metal-owners-jailed-held-without-bail-on-charges-tied-to-watts-explosion-near-school/.

[30] Marissa Evans, “Jordan High Students See No Resolution over Atlas Metal,” Los Angeles Times, June 3, 2023, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-06-03/jordan-high-school-watts-metal-recycling-plant.

[31] FOX 11, “Students Hold Protest over Lead Levels at Jordan High School in Watts,” FOX 11 Los Angeles, August 15, 2022, https://www.foxla.com/news/students-hold-protest-over-lead-levels-at-jordan-high-school.

[32] Marissa Evans, “Jordan High Students See No Resolution over Atlas Metal,” Los Angeles Times, June 3, 2023, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-06-03/jordan-high-school-watts-metal-recycling-plant.

[33] “Outcry over Recycling Plant next to Watts High School Appears to Gain Traction,” Yahoo! News, June 3, 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/news/outcry-over-recycling-plant-next-120037484.html.

[34] Marc Brown, “Eyewitness Newsmakers Examines Environmental Hazards at Jordan High School in Watts,” ABC7 Los Angeles, September 4, 2022, https://abc7.com/post/newsmakers-watts-toxic-marc-brown-water-lead-jordan-high-school/12191014/.

[35] Marissa Evans, “Jordan High Students See No Resolution over Atlas Metal,” Los Angeles Times, June 3, 2023, https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-06-03/jordan-high-school-watts-metal-recycling-plant.

[36] Clara Harter, “Frustration Rises as Explosions Continue by Watts School, and Court Case Stalls,” Daily News, August 16, 2024, https://www.dailynews.com/2024/08/15/frustration-rises-as-explosions-continue-by-watts-school-and-court-case-stalls/.

[37] Brenda Fernanda Verano, “‘decades of Neglect,’ Multiple Lawsuits against Watts Recycling Plant next to a School Yields No Results,” CaloNews.com, August 27, 2024, https://www.calonews.com/communities/south-la/decades-of-neglect-multiple-lawsuits-against-watts-recycling-plant-next-to-a-school-yields-no/article_f56fef46-5f55-11ef-b6c0-bf6faea4d6ff.html.

[38] “Concerns over Lead Contamination at Jordan High School in Watts Prompts New Coalition,” CBS News, April 25, 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/concerns-over-lead-contamination-at-jordan-high-school-in-watts-prompts-new-coalition/ .

[39] WLCAC, “Watts Labor Community Action Committee,” Instagram, accessed December 18, 2025, https://www.instagram.com/wlcac/.

[40] WLCAC, “Watts Labor Community Action Committee,” Facebook, accessed December 18, 2025, https://www.facebook.com/wlcac/.

[41] LatinoCoalition.LA, “Latino Coalition of Los Angeles,” Instagram, accessed December 18, 2025, https://www.instagram.com/latinocoalition.la/.

[42] OurTurnCA, “Our Turn California,” Instagram, accessed December 18, 2025, https://www.instagram.com/ourturnca/.

[43] LA Times Studios, “Jordan High Seniors Ask You to Take Their View of Watts. So They Sent the L.A. Times a Poem about It,” YouTube, September 16, 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbPOLRix2Qs.

[44] Miller Waste, “The Hidden Dangers of E-Waste: Why Responsible Recycling Matters ,” Miller Waste Systems, August 1, 2025, https://millerwaste.ca/hidden-dangers-of-e-waste/.

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