Demonstrators converged outside the Carnival Cruise Lines headquarters in Doral Tuesday to protest over Cuba's rule banning Cuban-born people from returning to the Communist island by boat.
The Democracy Movement organized the protest, calling the Cuban law discriminatory and calling out Carnival for abiding by the law.
The group says they have presented their case to the American Civil Liberties Union.
"I would hope that Carnival would do its best to allow the Cubans to go to Cuba," said Ramon Saul Sanchez, who helped organize the protest. "We believe this is similar to when blacks had to sit in the back of the bus. We are trying to somehow take example of Miss Rosa Parks and sit in the front of the bus."
It's not the policy stirring the protesters, rather the practice of what they say is discrimination against people from Cuba.
"We are not trying to be antagonistic with anybody. However, if we just stayed quiet, nothing will change," Sanchez said.
Carnival issued a statement over the issue last week.
"Cuba has a longstanding regulation that no Cuban-born individuals are allowed to travel from the U.S. to Cuba by ship. This regulation applies to all cruise lines, ferries and any form of shipping planning to travel to Cuba," the statement read, in part. "We understand and empathize with the concerns being voiced and will continue to work the issue with Cuban officials. It is our hope and intention that we will be able to travel with everyone."
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A class action lawsuit has been filed against Carnival Corp. for refusing to allow Cuban-born residents to board its cruises to Cuba.
The Carnival Fathom brand will start operating the first cruises from Miami to Cuba on May 1, 2016. The ship, Adonia, will stop in three cities.
