Faced with a federal court challenge by several Atlanta artists, the city of Atlanta has agreed to halt enforcement of a city ordinance that officials had cited in threatening to obliterate publicly visible murals on private property.

On June 23, U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg signed a consent order formally barring enforcement of the 1982 ordinance. Totenberg ordered city attorneys to notify all city employees charged with enforcing the ordinance of the ban.

The city has also agreed to pay the plaintiffs—Grant Henry, owner of the Old Fourth Ward's funky Sister Louisa Church of the Living Room and Ping Pong Emporium, and his Church Murch store; artist and illustrator Fabian “Occasional Superstar” Williams; painter and muralist Peter “PLF” Ferrari; and Brazilian-born artist Benito “Yoyo” Ferro—$500 each in damages. Civil rights attorney Gerry Weber, who represented the artists, said the issue of attorney fees and expenses is being negotiated.