The Porcine Pardon: Hog Named 6-7 Granted Clemency by Miami Dade County Mayor.
Although not quite at the same level as granting clemency to festive fowl, but the county's top official experienced a ceremonial pardon event this week by ritually sparing the life of a swine named Six Seven.
Daniella Levine Cava carried out the annual tradition at the Cuban-style Latin Cafe 2000 in the center of Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.
“The swine has done no wrong. She is worthy of this pardon. She has committed zero crimes,” Levine Cava said in a speech with inescapable allusions to the vast quantity of executive clemencies issued since the commencement of a current administration.
“Except perhaps for eating six or seven apples per day,” she went on. “May this pig enjoy a long and happy life without fear.”
This ceremony, either celebrating or rejecting the region’s Hispanic tradition of consuming swine during the holidays, was created to mirror the annual turkey pardoning at the White House.
The pig, provided by a Coral Gables firefighter, was christened after the popular vernacular phrase of young people exclaiming “six-seven” – originating from a musical verse – often without clear purpose. The phrase became so widespread that a prominent word reference recently made “6-7” its annual vocabulary selection.
A Peaceful Retirement
Six Seven the pig is now destined to live out its days at a countryside refuge “distant from barbecues and spits”, according to the event’s official press release.
“The annual pig pardon has become one of our favorite ways to begin the holiday season,” said Eric Castellanos, in a particularly upbeat message.
“It represents the character of Miami: happy, diverse, and rooted in traditions that bring people together. Every time, we are proud to celebrate culture and compassion in a way only Miami can.”
Guests enjoyed a meat-free selection of croquettes and Cuban coffee as they toasted the pig's pardon.
