On Wendesday, January 14th, 2004 the Chicago City Council adopted an Ordinance that amended the 2001 Chicago Ward map to settle a Federal lawsuit brought by the Polish American Congress.

Tn that lawsuit, the Polish American Congress stated that the 2001 Chicago ward redistricting map and its process had violated the First Amendment of the US Constitution, the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, the 15th Amendment of the US Constitution and Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The Polish American Congress opposed the new redistricting map as to the 30th Ward because the new ward boundaries splintered the Polish ethnic community of interest among 4 different wards. By purposely creating a Latino majority in the new 30th ward, the focus on race injured the community of interest by minimizing the effective representation of Polish ethnic interests on the City Council. Other harms inflicted on the Polish community included the removal of Polish churches and businesses from the 30th ward and the potetntial cuts of ward services to the Polish immigrant group.

The case was heard by Federal District Court Judge Milton Shadur who agreed that the equal protection rights of the residents were violated when Chicago used race as the predominant factor in the determination of the ward's boundaries.

The Ordinance authorizes a series of boundary changes that paves the way for the lawsuit to be dropped. It also provides for St. Hyacinth Basilica to be moved back into the 30th Ward where much of the once-formidable Polish community is still concentrated.

Commenting on the actions of the City Council, Polish American Congress President Edward J. Moskal felt vindicated - "We knew all along that the horse-shoe shaped ward was gerrymandered so as to splinter the voice of the Polish American community. It's a historic moment for us as we build together a foundation for the future."

The Polish American Congress was represented by Chicago Attorney Greg Kulis, and assisted by National Executive Director Les Kuczynski in crafting the novel legal arguments that helped the court reject the city's plea to dismiss the case.