By: Kelly Hamilton
Raquel Riley Thomas, a decorated U.S. Army Captain (Veteran), entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for women’s safety, is taking a stand for future generations with the launch of DefendRILEY: Fight Back. Stand Strong. Stay Safe. Her first major initiative under the new platform? A petition to include self-defense as an elective course in Georgia high schools.
This critical step is deeply personal. In 2013, Raquel experienced the loss of her mother, M. Riley, tragically. As she navigated the grief, Raquel learned that her mother had also been a survivor of assault—an upsetting revelation that mirrored her past struggles. Rather than allowing the pain to define her, Raquel channeled her emotions into a purpose-driven mission. She dedicated herself to empowering women and girls by providing them with self-defense education and raising awareness about personal safety, hoping to create a positive impact in the face of her hardships.
Raquel is building a foundation to provide accessible self-defense education to women and girls across Georgia and, ultimately, the nation. Raquel is a red belt in Taekwondo and an active martial arts student, working toward her black belt to become a Master Instructor. Her vision includes transitioning DefendRILEY into a nonprofit organization that will offer scholarships and hands-on training in the future.
“The time to act is now,” Raquel says. “Our young people—especially girls—must know how to protect themselves. We arm them with knowledge in classrooms, but we don’t teach them one of the most basic life skills: staying safe.”
Raquel’s petition has launched calls on lawmakers to make self-defense an elective option in Georgia high schools, helping every student, regardless of background, learn critical safety skills. The movement also advocates for expanding this vision into middle schools and colleges.
While the petition focuses on Georgia, Raquel hopes it becomes a national model. Her call to action is simple but urgent: sign the petition, share your story, and support the movement to make self-defense a standard part of youth education.
The DefendRILEY mission is clear:
DefendRILEY is committed to empowering women and girls through hands-on self-defense training, personal safety education, and confidence-building strategies. We equip individuals with the skills and mindset to fight back, stand firm, and stay safe, transforming survivors into warriors and creating a world where no woman feels powerless.”
Raquel’s vision reaches beyond classroom walls. DefendRILEY aims to build a global community where self-defense is seen not as a luxury, but a right.
Raquel knows change won’t happen overnight, but she’s committed to the long game. “This petition is just the beginning,” she says. “We’re planting the seeds for a future where every girl and woman knows her strength—and how to use it.”
Community members and supporters can take immediate action by signing the petition, sharing it on social media, and helping bring the cause to visibility. As awareness grows, so will the support behind bringing self-defense education into schools, one classroom at a time.
To support the DefendRILEY petition, visit Change..
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Published by Jeremy S.
