The area of ​​Los Angeles, which served as the setting for the films of the “Fast and Furious” franchise, became the scene of protests on Friday against the filming of the next feature film in the series, claiming that since then the local streets have faced a real “epidemic” of illegal urban racing, according to Agerpres .

Residents have expressed their displeasure at this weekend’s planned filming in Angelino Heights, a historic neighborhood located near downtown Los Angeles. The area is home to the fictional character Dominic Toretto, played by actor Vin Diesel in the franchise.

The protests have been directed against illegal auto racing and several street takeovers, in which crowds of people gather, usually at night, to watch racing enthusiasts rev their engines at dizzying speeds and race through the streets of the California city.

Damian Kewitt, a local resident and founder of SAFE, which protests the practice, said the “Fast and Furious” movie franchise has allowed the “glorification of illegal activity” and turned the Angelino Heights area into a “tourist center for racing.” Illegal cars”.

“On Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, three, four, five or six cars come here to do ‘burnouts’ and ‘doughnuts’ – maneuvers where the drivers make the tires of their race cars screech,” said Damian Kewitt .

“There was no street racing in our area before Fast and Furious was filmed here,” he added.