Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
KIRKBRIDE, Sandra
KIRKBRIDE, Sandra. (Dubuque, IA- ). Founder, Voices for Life. Kirkbride, Dubuque's leading antiabortion advocate, in January 1986 traced her conversion to activism to a June 1983 broadcast of the PTL Club on which host Jim Bakker showed a painting of a grief stricken Jesus kneeling while holding an aborted fetus. From that time, Kirkbride became one of Iowa's leading moral crusaders.
Kirkbride's posting of anti-abortion billboards contributed to the controversy surrounding her activities. The first poster, the Jesus picture, went up in 1985. During the 1986 presidential election, billboards denounced Democrats Tom Harkin, Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro. Kirkbride was instrumental in bringing Joe Scheidler, an anti-abortion activist and founder of the pro-life Action League of Chicago, to Dubuque three times and invited Jerry Falwell, leader of the Moral Majority, who later canceled his trip.