Cecile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood, died at the age of 67 on Monday after a battle with cancer.
“This morning our beloved Cecile passed away at home, surrounded by her family and her ever-loyal dog, Ollie,” Richards’s family wrote in a statement. “Our hearts are broken today but no words can do justice to the joy she brought to our lives.”
President Biden, who honored Richards with the Medal of Freedom in November, described the abortion rights activist as a fearless champion for civil rights causes.
“Cecile fearlessly led us forward to be the America we say we are. Carrying her mom’s torch for justice, she championed some of our Nation’s most important civil rights causes,” he wrote in a statement.
Richards is the daughter of Ann Richards, who was the first woman to be elected governor of Texas. The longtime activist joined Planned Parenthood in 2006 and led the nonprofit organization for 12 years. She left her post in 2018 and later founded a gender equity organization called Supermajority.
“She fought for the dignity of workers, defended and advanced women’s reproductive rights and equality, and mobilized our fellow Americans to exercise their power to vote,” Biden continued. “She was a leader of utmost character and I know that her legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.”
Vice President Harris also shared her condolences for Richards Monday, emphasizing her “legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come.”
“I have known Cecile for decades and have stood shoulder to shoulder with her in many battles,” Harris said in a statement. “What I know to be true is that in this moment, she would want us to honor her by rededicating ourselves to the fight for fundamental freedoms. Let us roll up our sleeves and make her proud.”
Prior to her role at Planned Parenthood, Richards served as deputy chief of staff for former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and founded America Votes, a group seeking to increase voter registration and participation.
Pelosi described Richards as a “commanding leader” and “formidable champion of women, girls and working families.”
“As my deputy chief of staff when I was Democratic Whip and Leader, she was a critical part of ensuring that Team Pelosi stayed connected to the needs and priorities of grassroots,” Pelosi wrote in a statement “As she ascended to other leadership roles, we never stopped working together to defend the rights of women and working families.”
Richards, who spoke at last year’s Democratic National Convention, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma in 2023, which is the same type of cancer that Biden’s son Beau died from in 2015.
“We are grateful to the doctors and health care workers who provided her excellent care and the friends, family, and well-wishers who have been by her side during this challenging time,” Richards’s family wrote Monday.
