President of Planned Parenthood Cecile Richards came to Huntington’s Book Revue on April 21 for her new memoir, “Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead – My Life Story.” About 20 anti-abortion protesters gathered outside of the store bearing signs and saying prayers in unison.
Richards began the event in conversation with author, Alice Hoffman, the former calling the current state of women’s rights a “titanic battle because women are actually finally fighting for equality, not just a little bit better childcare or a little bit better insurance.”
Hoffman asked what Richards would advise women entering into politics for the first time to pack in a bag. While she laughed, Richards said, “handcuff keys.” More seriously, she advised women to bring “the people that inspire us to keep going.” Richards said she appeared in a five-hour long hearing before Congress and brought a photo of her children.
Richards praised women for supporting one another and stressed the importance of sending letters and making phone calls to congressmen, attending town hall meetings, voting, investing in and supporting young people. Richards is stepping down after 12 years “to make room for someone else to get to do this job,” she said. She vowed to “spend every waking moment making sure that every single person in this country is registered, is activated, and goes to vote this November.” Richards’s event included a voter registration table.
At the conclusion of the conversation, Richards signed attendees’ copies of “Make Trouble.” Richards’s memoir was co-authored by Lauren Peterson, who was also at the event.
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”48″ exclusions=”345,348″ sortorder=”344,345,357,358,356,346,347,348,349,350,351,352,353,355,354,359,360″ display=”basic_slideshow” autoplay=”0″ pauseonhover=”0″ arrows=”1″ transition_style=”slide”]