Five Words that Changed America: Miranda v. Arizona and The Right to Remain Silent

You have the right to remain silent. Most Americans know the warning, but few know the story behind it. Miranda v. Arizona is more than the source of this iconic phrase. It is a remarkable tale of devastating crimes, young victims, novice police officers, a serial sex offender, purse snatchings, robberies, strategic moves, brilliant lawyering, bravery, misogyny, murder, brutality, and poor choices. In the middle of it all were police departments struggling to change with the times, a United States Supreme Court in the throes of an individual rights revolution, and a nation navigating the turmoil of the 1960s. Based on first-person interviews and archival materials, Five Words That Changed America brings these stories to life and provides a birds-eye view of the case that changed America.