The Porcine Pardon: Hog Named Six Seven Pardoned by Miami Dade County Mayor.
Although not quite at the identical stature as granting clemency to Thanksgiving turkeys, but the county's top official conducted a 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-style Latin Cafe 2000 in the heart of Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.
“The swine has done no wrong. Clemency is justified for her. No offenses are on her docket,” stated the mayor in a speech with obvious nods to the extraordinary and sizable number of executive clemencies issued from the start of the onset of a second term in office.
“If we disregard eating 6 or 7 apples per day,” the mayor added. “I hope she experiences a lengthy and joyful existence free from concern.”
The gathering, either celebrating or rejecting the region’s Hispanic tradition of consuming swine during the holidays, was created to emulate the yearly bird sparing at the White House.
The swine, contributed by a Coral Gables firefighter, was given its name from the current slang trend of young people exclaiming “6-7” – originating from a rap song lyric – often for no discernable reason. The craze became so pervasive that a leading lexicon site recently declared “6-7” its annual vocabulary selection.
A New Life
The pardoned swine is now scheduled to spend its days at a countryside refuge “distant from barbecues and spits”, according to the event’s official press release.
“This swine clemency has become a cherished method to begin the holiday season,” said the event host, in a decidedly positive message.
“It represents the character of Miami: joyful, diverse, and grounded in customs that bring people together. Every time, we are proud to celebrate tradition and kindness in a way unique to Miami.”
Attendees enjoyed a meat-free selection of spinach fritters and cafecito as they marked the swine's new lease on life.
