A Pig's Tale: Hog Named 6-7 Pardoned by Miami Dade County Leader.
It might not have been at the equivalent scale as granting clemency to holiday birds, but the mayor of Miami-Dade had her own presidential-style act this week by ritually sparing the life of a swine named Six Seven.
Daniella Levine Cava carried out the annual tradition at the Cuban-themed Latin Cafe 2000 in the center of Miami’s iconic Little Havana neighborhood.
“This animal is guiltless. Clemency is justified for her. Her criminal record is spotless,” declared Levine Cava in a speech with obvious nods to the extraordinary and sizable number of pardons issued from the start of the commencement of a new presidential term.
“If we disregard eating half a dozen apples per day,” the mayor added. “May this pig enjoy a long and happy life away from worry.”
This ceremony, either celebrating or rejecting the area's customary feast of feasting on pork during the holidays, was established to emulate the annual turkey pardoning at the White House.
The swine, donated by a Coral Gables firefighter, was given its name from the popular vernacular phrase of young people yelling “six seven” – inspired by a hip-hop line – often for no discernable reason. The trend became so pervasive that a major dictionary recently named “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 “away from grills and cookware”, according to the ceremony's official statement.
“The pig pardon has become one of our favorite ways to open the holiday season,” said the cafe owner, in a particularly upbeat message.
“It represents the essence of Miami: joyful, multicultural, and grounded in customs that unite the community. Annually, we are proud to celebrate culture and compassion in a way only Miami can.”
Participants enjoyed a meat-free selection of spinach croquetas and strong coffee as they toasted the pig's pardon.
