Ted Mote Interview

In this interview, Compton and Mote discuss the Miranda vs. Arizona case, the application of the right to remain silent, and what one should do if detained by the police; how the Arizona ACLU decides which cases to take; why young people are not afforded the same constitutional rights as adults; free speech and the restriction thereof, particularly on college campuses; intimidation and suppression of the free press; potential abuses of a new law enabling no-knock warrants; issues surrounding prisons, especially rehabilitation vs. punishment of incarcerated people and treatment of addicted people; ineffective crime reduction measures and the perceived rising crime rate, including elected officials' practice of "juggling statistics" for political gain and expanding police forces as a default solution to social issues; some of the ACLU's current cases on such subjects as flag desecration, appearance-based discrimination in public employment, and the Morris Starsky case; public officials' perception of the ACLU's effectiveness; and the ACLU's structure and goals, including differences between chapters.