The Porcine Pardon: Hog Named 6-7 Granted Clemency by Miami-Dade Mayor.
It might not have been at the same level as granting clemency to Thanksgiving turkeys, but the county's top official experienced a ceremonial pardon event this week by ceremoniously saving the life of a swine named Six Seven.
Daniella Levine Cava performed the seasonal stunt at the Cuban-themed Latin Cafe 2000 in the heart of Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.
“This pig is innocent. Clemency is justified for her. Her criminal record is spotless,” Levine Cava said in a speech with obvious nods to the sheer volume of executive clemencies issued from the start of the onset of a current administration.
“If we disregard eating 6 or 7 apples per day,” she went on. “May this pig enjoy a prosperous future without fear.”
This ceremony, which both honors and questions the local cultural practice of feasting on pork during the holidays, was created to replicate the annual turkey pardoning at the White House.
The animal, provided by a Coral Gables firefighter, was named for the popular vernacular phrase of young people exclaiming “6-7” – deriving from a musical verse – often without clear purpose. The phrase became so widespread that a major dictionary recently declared “six-seven” its top term for the year.
A New Life
This particular pig is now set to enjoy its days at a countryside refuge “far from charcoal and roasting pans”, according to the organizers' announcement.
“The annual pig pardon has become one of our favorite ways to open the end-of-year celebrations,” said the cafe owner, in a decidedly positive message.
“It represents the spirit of Miami: joyful, varied, and grounded in customs that unite the community. Every time, we are delighted to mark culture and compassion in a way distinctively Miamian.”
Guests enjoyed a vegetarian menu of croquettes and cafecito as they celebrated the swine's new lease on life.
