Who Was Cecile Richards? Revered Women's Rights Activist Passes Away

Cecile Richards, a respected American women's rights activist, passed away on January 20, aged 67. She died at home amid a long battle with brain cancer, her family said in a statement. "This morning our beloved Cecile passed away at home, surrounded by her family and her ever-loyal dog, Ollie. Our hearts are broken today but no words can do justice to the joy she brought to our lives," they said, according to The Guardian.

All About Cecile Richards

Richards was a prominent figure in USA's feminist movement, particularly the fight for accessible reproductive resources. She was the former President of the non-profit organisation Planned Parenthood and helped make support for abortion rights a virtual requirement for Democratic candidates.

Under Richards' leadership, Planned Parenthood turned from a healthcare giant to a political institution that advocated for women's rights to reproductive autonomy. The organisation overcame numerous Congressional attempts to withdraw reproductive rights and fought state-level efforts to restrict abortion access.

Richards was born and raised in Texas. She was the daughter of Ann Richards, a Democratic politician and the governor of Texas, and David Richards, a lawyer. Cecile Richards was known for her vocal human rights activism and 'rulebreaking' since her school days. At age 13, she was named an honorary page to the 62nd Texas State Legislator.

Richards reportedly helped her mother campaign for Sarah Weddington, the attorney who won Roe v. Wade, in her bid for the Texas state legislature. She earned a bachelor's degree in history from Brown University in 1980. She then worked for the rights of several groups including labourers, healthcare workers, educators, etc.

Richards became the President of Planned Parenthood in 2006. She rose to fame in 2015, after anti-abortion activists released doctored recordings of the organisation's workers discussing "the sale of fetal tissue." Richards faced an hours-long, highly publicised grilling session by US House Republicans.

Richards resigned as President of Planned Parenthood in 2018, yet remained a pivotal figure in women's rights activism. She founded Supermajority, an organisation to support women’s leadership. After the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, she started Charley, a bot to help abortion seekers get accurate information about the procedure, and Abortion in America, a campaign to publicise stories of post-Roe abortions.

On November 20, 2024, then-US President Joe Biden awarded Richards the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House. This is the highest civilian honour in the US. She also earned the Puffin/Nation Prize for Creative Citizenship in 2010. She was also included in the TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2012.