The UNS moved from a membership of 30,000 in 1938 to over 360,000 by August of 1940 under the leadership of Salvador Abascal. The tragic death of Urquiza in April 1938 was a treated as an act of martyrdom. This martyrdom would become a theme of Sinarquismo, much like that of Father Pro and others in the Cristiada. However after Urquiza’s murder, Abascal ascended as leader of the UNS and turned the movement into a force to be reckoned with-indeed one capable of challenging the PRM. A former Supreme Chief of the UNS; Abascal’s militant spirit transformed the nature and way Sinarquismo was perceived. Abascal, according to historian Hector Hernandez, infused vitality and enthusiasm into Sinarquismo and took the UNS to levels of fanatical militancy.…show more content… Basically, Abascal wanted to direct attention to the state’s crimes of anticlericalism and socialism. With Abascal as the head of UNS, the Sinarquista actions were audacious, fiery, and intense. A key selling point for the masses was the use of nationalism. The UNS used flags, songs, and armbands in strictly controlled orderly rallies to gain the support of the citizenry. The killing of Maria Teresa Bustos in 1939 along with several other Sinquaristas by agraristas in the city of Celaya catapulted the UNS’s popularity as Bustos was named a martyr of the Catholic
