It has been . . . a week.
President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term, and we watched as he began rolling back protections to our basic rights. Tuesday was the 8th anniversary of the Women’s March, the single largest protest event in American history.
And my friend, predecessor, and one of the fiercest champions for our rights – former Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards – died after her battle with brain cancer.
For many people, the image that comes to mind when you think of Cecile is from the day in 2015 when she sat in front of a mostly hostile U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for five hours, taking mostly hostile questions accusing Planned Parenthood of wrongdoing.
The hearing had the opposite effect of what was intended by opponents of abortion rights. Cecile left that hearing with even more people knowing what Planned Parenthood does. They heard from her about the breadth of sexual and reproductive health services and education, and the compassion of the providers and staff. Planned Parenthood gained supporters, with poll after poll showing that the vast majority of people are with us.
That’s still true today, nearly a decade later. As Planned Parenthood now faces more hostile territory and threats to patients’ care under a second Trump administration, the majority of voters don’t support politicians taking away access to birth control, wellness exams, and cancer screenings for people with low incomes.
And we know the majority of voters also don’t want to see politicians banning abortion, whether it’s through legislation, the courts, or shutting down Planned Parenthood health centers. But, as Cecile reminded us, we can never underestimate the callousness of those willing to trade our rights in spite of what’s popular.
I won’t sugarcoat it: we’re in a bad situation. Roughly 39 percent of women of reproductive age – more than 25 million women – are living in the 19 states with abortion bans. Women have died because this public health crisis has made it more dangerous to be pregnant in America. The lawmakers who made this mess are now leading the country, poised to make it worse.
The challenges ahead may seem daunting, especially because we don’t yet have the full picture of what attacks to reproductive freedom are coming our way. With all of its anticipated chaotic energy, the Trump administration has already moved swiftly to attack immigrants, trans folks, racial and gender equality, and voting rights.
But together we are stronger than any challenge that comes our way. Planned Parenthood has never backed down from a fight. We won’t now.
Over and over this week, I’ve been reminded how many people Cecile pulled into this fight.
It’s been a heavy, heavy week. If you’re feeling like it’s all too much, that’s OK. Feel the weight of it, and let it press your feet into the earth, grounding you for the work ahead. It is not too much to carry, if we share the load.
Over and over this week, I’ve been reminded how many people Cecile pulled into this fight. She mentored fierce, badass people who are today leaders of national and local human rights organizations. They’re members of Congress. They’re sex educators or community organizers. Seeing them share their stories this week of how Cecile showed them their power reminded me: none of us are alone in this fight.
Share information from trusted sources with each other, because censorship about abortion and other sexual and reproductive care is already happening. Be a mentor for the next generation, because the fight for our rights is a relay, not a sprint. Show up anywhere folks are raising their fists in defiance, because we need to see each other. And when your arm gets tired, Cecile would tell you to eat a good meal with people you love, rest, then get back in it.
When you look back on this moment – whether it’s four years from now or 40 – what do you want us to have done together? As Cecile put it frankly, the only acceptable answer is: “Everything we could.”
