The Porcine Pardon: Hog Named Six Seven Granted Clemency by Miami Dade County Mayor.
While perhaps not at the identical stature as sparing Thanksgiving turkeys, but the mayor of Miami-Dade experienced a ceremonial pardon event this week by formally pardoning the life of a pig named Six Seven.
Daniella Levine Cava performed the seasonal stunt at the Cuban-themed Latin Cafe 2000 in the center of Miami’s iconic Little Havana neighborhood.
“The swine has done no wrong. Clemency is justified for her. Her criminal record is spotless,” declared Levine Cava in a speech with inescapable allusions to the extraordinary and sizable number of pardons issued since the commencement of a second term in office.
“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, simultaneously observing and challenging the area's customary feast of consuming swine during the holidays, was created to emulate the yearly bird sparing at the White House.
The animal, contributed by a local firefighter, was christened after the current slang trend of young people exclaiming “six seven” – deriving from a musical verse – often for no discernable reason. The phrase became so widespread that a major dictionary recently made “6-7” its annual vocabulary selection.
A Peaceful Retirement
The pardoned swine is now scheduled to spend its days at a countryside refuge “away from grills and cookware”, according to the ceremony's official statement.
“This swine clemency has become a beloved tradition to kick off the holiday season,” said Eric Castellanos, in a particularly upbeat message.
“It embodies the character of Miami: happy, diverse, and rooted in traditions that foster togetherness. Every time, we are honored to observe tradition and kindness in a way distinctively Miamian.”
Participants enjoyed a plant-based fare of croquettes and cafecito as they celebrated the swine's new lease on life.