Former president of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards, died on Monday after battling brain cancer. She was 67 years old.
Former President Joe Biden said he and his wife, Jill, were “deeply saddened” to learn of the death.
“Cecile fearlessly led us forward to be the America we say we are,” Biden said. “Carrying her mom’s torch for justice, she championed some of our nation’s most important civil rights causes. 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 said Richards was a leader “of utmost character.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris called Richards a “fighter and a force to be reckoned with.”
“Cecile led with heart, fearlessness, and courage on the frontlines of the fight for women’s rights and the dignity of every woman to make decisions about their own body,” Harris said. “She fought tirelessly on behalf of all women, and today millions across the nation benefit from her work.”
Harris said Richards left behind a legacy that will continue to “inspire generations to come.”
“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,” Harris said. “Let us roll up our sleeves and make her proud.”
