CNN
—
Cécile Richards, the former president of Planned Parenthood, has died, her family announced Monday in a statement. She was 67 years old.
“This morning, our beloved Cécile died at home, surrounded by her family and her always faithful dog, Ollie. Our hearts are broken today, but no words can do justice to the joy she brought to our lives,” it read.
Richards died just hours before President-elect Donald Trump was sworn in for a second term as president.
Richards’ family was “grateful to the doctors and healthcare workers who provided him with excellent care and to the friends, family and supporters who stood by him during this difficult time,” it said. read.
Richards served as president of Planned Parenthood from 2006 to 2018, helping to raise the profile of an organization long criticized by conservatives and anti-abortion activists who have called on the government to defund it.
“Together, we have made real progress in this country, expanding access to services and making reproductive rights a central priority of our country’s health care system,” Richards said in January 2018 when she announced her resignation. “I am deeply proud of the progress we have made for the millions of people Planned Parenthood health centers serve across the country each year.”
Planned Parenthood describes itself as the leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education, with nearly 600 health centers across the country .
This is a developing story and will be updated.