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Cecile Richards, who served as the long-standing president of Planned Parenthood, has passed away at the age of 67 following a battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer, her family announced on Monday.
In their statement, the family shared that Richards died peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones and her faithful companion, her dog Ollie. They expressed their profound grief while acknowledging the immense joy she brought to their lives. The statement also extended gratitude to the medical professionals who provided care during her illness and acknowledged the support of friends and well-wishers throughout her health challenges.
Richards, who led Planned Parenthood for 12 years, transformed the organization into America’s primary abortion provider. During her tenure, she consistently opposed pro-life initiatives and advocated for unrestricted abortion access throughout pregnancy, including fighting against restrictions on partial-birth procedures.
Cecile Richards, who oversaw the murder of countless babies while running Planned Parenthood (@PPFA) has died from brain cancer.
I hope she saw her need for Christ in the last days of her life, because hell is eternal.
Everyone needs Christ. You're lost without Him. pic.twitter.com/BsHK63tjnN
— Travis Rusko (@travisrusko) January 20, 2025
Her leadership period was marked by controversy, particularly when the organization faced accusations of profiting from the sale of fetal tissue, leading to extensive congressional probes and public scrutiny.
Her personal experience with abortion shaped her advocacy work. In 2014, she publicly shared, “I had an abortion. It was the right decision for me and my husband, and it wasn’t a difficult decision.”
Shortly before her death, President Joe Biden bestowed upon Richards the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian recognition in the nation. During the ceremony, Biden praised her as “a leader of utmost character,” noting that her legacy would continue through her family and the lives she influenced, as well as through the nation’s ongoing pursuit of equality, justice, and freedom.
Her passing marks the end of an era that saw millions of pregnancies terminated under her organizational leadership.
We mourn the loss of an incredible mother, beloved daughter, inspiring visionary, and selfless leader. Thank you for helping women and moms rise.@CecileRichards, former President of @ppact and lifelong organizer, shared about why she was staying in the fight for women's rights… pic.twitter.com/rF5AxQHobw
— MomsRising (@MomsRising) January 20, 2025