Sammy Gecsoyler
sammygecsoyler.bsky.social
Sammy Gecsoyler
@sammygecsoyler.bsky.social
news reporter @guardian - reach me on sammy.gecsoyler@theguardian.com
After a surge in hate crimes in Birmingham, a campaign to fend off growing racism in the city has taken off

“It gave me hope that people stood together and said ‘not in our names’.”

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
‘Brummies united against racism’: poster campaign takes on the far right
A message of neighbourly solidarity is thriving in Birmingham against a backdrop of racist intimidation
www.theguardian.com
October 12, 2025 at 11:22 AM
I'm looking to speak to a UK renter aged 61-79 for a Guardian story who is happy to be photographed.

Please email on sammy.gecsoyler@theguardian.com to get in touch!

#journorequest
September 29, 2025 at 12:57 PM
EXC: I spoke to Mike Higgins,
who was arrested at last month's Palestine Action demo

“It’s not about me... It’s about trying to stop the killing in Palestine,” said Higgins, who is blind and uses a wheelchair

Theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/06/disabled-man-arrested-palestine-action-protest-police
‘Police would like this to go away’: disabled man arrested at Palestine Action event defends protest
Mike Higgins, who is 62, blind and uses a wheelchair, was one of 532 arrested at largest demo since group proscribed
www.theguardian.com
September 6, 2025 at 9:29 AM
I spoke to people who quit their jobs in a blaze of glory for @theguardian.com G2 - and delved into why these dramatic exits are on the rise

www.theguardian.com/money/2025/s...
Meet the revenge quitters: why people are ditching their jobs - and refusing to go quietly
From marching bands to TikTok takedowns, employees are resigning in spectacular fashion. While going viral seems risky, some find it opens new doors ...
www.theguardian.com
September 3, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Participants at the next mass demo against the ban on Palestine Action will withhold their details from officers to force en-masse processing at police stations.

Defend Our Juries says this would make it “practically impossible” to arrest everyone.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Palestine Action ban protesters plan to make their mass arrest ‘practically impossible’
Defend Our Juries says ‘trick of using street bail’ will not work if participants insist on being taken to a police station
www.theguardian.com
August 22, 2025 at 6:59 AM
A tale of two towers? We spoke to people living in new builds and council blocks, built decades apart, who face the same problem. Their flats are unbearably hot in the summer.

Not only is this uncomfortable, it can be deadly

With @michaelgoodier.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
‘Do not buy these flats’: residents warn about unbearable heat inside London new-builds
Experts say many new homes being built in the UK not designed to withstand extreme summer temperatures
www.theguardian.com
August 12, 2025 at 12:06 PM
My write up of today's Palestine Action demonstration:

“I’m holding a piece of paper, that’s not a terrorist act. A terrorist act is intentionally starving 2 million," one said.

“I don’t know what to say to Palestinians, I’m so sorry it’s come to this.”
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...
Police arrest 365 people at protest over Palestine Action ban in London
Met officers and other UK forces form ‘significant presence’ in largest protest since group was proscribed as terrorist organisation
www.theguardian.com
August 9, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I'm looking to speak to people in their 20s who pay £100s of pounds a month to go to a luxury gym (Third Space, Equinox) for a Guardian story.

DM or email me on sammy.gecsoyler@theguardian.com

#journorequest
July 23, 2025 at 9:16 AM
NEW: The UK is set to tighten gun controls after a teenager bought a shotgun online and killed his family

He was on his way to carry out a school shooting in Luton when arrested with the gun and 33 cartridges

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
UK set to tighten gun controls after teenager shot dead mother and siblings
Crime commissioner calls for national database after Nicholas Prosper, 19, bought shotgun by forging firearms licence
www.theguardian.com
March 19, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by Sammy Gecsoyler
‘It clawed the back of my head’: the Hertfordshire village harassed by a hawk
‘It clawed the back of my head’: the Hertfordshire village harassed by a hawk
Flamstead residents – tall men, in particular – are under attack from a Harris’s hawk that has gone on a rampage
www.theguardian.com
March 15, 2025 at 3:21 AM
EXC: London councils have spent over £140m buying homes to move homeless people out of city

Most are located in towns already struggling with issues around poverty and housing including Luton, Harlow and Peterborough

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
London councils buy £140m of property to move homeless people out of city
Exclusive: More than a dozen authorities have bought more than 850 properties in English towns and cities since 2017
www.theguardian.com
March 8, 2025 at 10:35 AM
I've been covering the Sam Kerr trial, who is the latest person of colour to be charged with a racially aggravated offence in the UK

I wrote about this, and what the case says about power, privilege and police conduct

www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Sam Kerr trial: how a drunken night out revealed questions of race, power and privilege
The jury’s verdict to clear the Australia and Chelsea star shows the complexity of cases with a racial charge
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Sam Kerr was "speaking her truth" when she called a Metropolitan police officer "stupid and white", her partner told a court today

Kristie Mewis, who is white, said officers treated her differently to Kerr, who had encountered such treatment "her whole life"

www.theguardian.com/football/202...
Sam Kerr was ‘speaking her truth’ in clash with police, partner tells court
Kristie Mewis says the Matildas star was ‘treated differently’ by officers after a late-night taxi dispute and that the pair felt ‘gaslit’
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Reposted by Sammy Gecsoyler
Great piece by @sammygecsoyler.bsky.social using council invoices data in London and Birmingham. How councils spent millions on companies that take homeless families and move them elsewhere

www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
English councils pay millions to move homeless families out of big cities
Guardian analysis reveals families often given little notice to relocate to already deprived communities far away with no extra support
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2024 at 3:51 PM
EXC: Councils are paying millions to relocation firms to help them permanently move homeless families out of big cities.

They are often moved to smaller, deprived towns in the Midlands and north of England.

(1/6)

www.theguardian.com/society/2024...
English councils pay millions to move homeless families out of big cities
Guardian analysis reveals families often given little notice to relocate to already deprived communities far away with no extra support
www.theguardian.com
December 31, 2024 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by Sammy Gecsoyler
Sobering piece by @sammygecsoyler.bsky.social on the decline of LGBTQ+ and other minority-focused media in the UK (and the world!)
Uncertain future of PinkNews sparks fears for LGBTQ+ media in UK
Multiple allegations of sexual misconduct made against bosses of title billed as safe space for journalists
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2024 at 9:07 AM
The Home Office has doubled the number of days newly recognised refugees have to find a home before being evicted from hotels and other asylum accommodation - for 6 months

The move was welcomed but there are calls for this to be made permanent

My piece here:

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...
Home Office trial doubles time refugees have to find home before eviction
Charities and politicians praise increase to 56 days but press for move to be made permanent
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2024 at 5:45 PM
Concern over the arrests of seven people by Met police for alleged connections to the PKK is growing

Kurdish advocacy groups have condemned the arrests and MP Feryal Clark has raised with matter with ministers

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...
Counter-terrorism police arrest seven in London raids connected to PKK
Kurdish Community Centre in Haringey among properties being searched by officers investigating banned group
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2024 at 10:03 AM
Reposted by Sammy Gecsoyler
It's official!

The Guardian @theguardian.com is now on @bsky.app 👇

go.bsky.app/B6CxPTX
November 17, 2024 at 9:53 AM