Cecile Richards doesn’t hestitate to question authority, make trouble
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Cecile Richards started questioning authority when she was in elementary school in Dallas.
As the young daughter of future Texas Gov. Ann Richards, Ms. Richards attended a Unitarian church. But when she refused to recite the Lord’s Prayer at the start of every school day, her sixth-grade teacher told her, “Little lady, you are just trying to make trouble.”
That was the start of Ms. Richards’ career as a rebel who became a union organizer, feminist and founder of the nonprofit America Votes. Now 60, she has been president of Planned Parenthood since 2006 and will leave that organization in May. She speaks here on Wednesday at the Carnegie Library Lecture Hall in Oakland about her book, “Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out and Finding the Courage to Lead.”
Last weekend, Ms. Richards attended the March for Our Lives, which drew more than 300,000 people to the nation’s capital and large demonstrations in cities nationwide.
For young people, Ms. Richards said, “This is really their first foray into social change. I hope this is the beginning of a sustained effort.”
More than most people, she understands the power wielded by the National Rifle Association. In her book, Ms. Richards recalls that one reason Ann Richards lost a bid for re-election as governor of Texas was her refusal to sign legislation allowing Texans to carry concealed guns.
Changing Americans’ attitudes about guns and safety will require changing the nation’s culture and “doing what a lot of people are talking about — registering people to vote,” Ms. Richards said.
Before joining Planned Parenthood, Ms. Richards worked on Capitol Hill for U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the first and only woman to serve as speaker of the house.
“She is the most effective person on Capitol Hill,” Ms. Richards said, adding that Ms. Pelosi’s legacy includes passage of the Affordable Care Act, which became law in2010.
“For millions of women it was the first time they got affordable health care and birth control coverage. It created some sense of equity,” Ms. Richards said.
She feels energized because more Americans are politically active, adding that many women’s priorities include equal pay, affordable child care and good public schools for their children.
“Twice as many women are running for Congress than ever before. This may be one of the gifts of President Trump. Every woman is looking at some of the men in office and saying, ‘Well, I could do a better job,’” she said.
Besides promoting her book, Ms. Richards is focused on helping support progressive candidates in the midterm elections.
“I think it’s going to be fascinating this November. Women are the most important political force in the country. Women know that Congress tried to take away access to Planned Parenthood and access to birth control.”