The car just drove in. We don't think the abortionist is going to be coming today.

We don't think you're listening to abortion under lockdown on BBC World Service.

I'm Philipp Thomas and this is John Pischotter.

So far it's been over a month that there have been no abortions at the facility at which I'm standing.

John is director of ProLife Waco, a group in Waco, Texas which opposes abortion.

And earlier this year something happened for which activists like him have been waiting almost 50 years, a surprising side effect of the coronavirus lockdown.

A portion became legal with Roe v. Wade in 1973.

This is the first month since 1973 where abortion has essentially been illegal in the

not only in Waco but the whole state of Texas by the governor's order relating to

COVID-19.

So that's been wonderful that babies are not being aborted.

It's a facility where I stand.

For abortion to be essentially illegal in Texas is a major development. It's America's second largest state.

It's home to almost 30 million people and it's the source of two key decisions by the US Supreme Court in Washington.

John mentioned the first of these, Roe v. Wade, which effectively legalized abortion across the United States 47 years ago.

Then, four years ago, the whole woman's health chain of abortion clinics challenged Texas regulations which had closed their facilities in the Lone Star State, and the clinics won.

Hey young lady, today's abortion day.

If you're here for anything like that, can I talk to you first? This is a story I've been following for years. In 2018, we spent time with protesters outside Texas clinics.

I really don't think it's a good idea to bring a child into this situation.

The state and politicians are inserting themselves into that

medical decision and with patients and physicians inside and so after this

ban was announced in Texas at the end of March, though I couldn't get to them physically,

...