The Porcine Pardon: Pig Named 6-7 Pardoned by Miami Dade County Mayor.
While perhaps not at the equivalent scale as sparing Thanksgiving turkeys, but the county's top official conducted a presidential-style act this week by formally pardoning the life of a pig named Six Seven.
Daniella Levine Cava executed the holiday gesture at the Cuban-themed Latin Cafe 2000 in the core of Miami’s iconic Little Havana neighborhood.
“This pig is innocent. She is worthy of this pardon. Her criminal record is spotless,” stated the mayor in a speech with inescapable allusions to the extraordinary and sizable number of pardons issued since the onset of a second term in office.
“Unless you count eating six or seven apples per day,” Levine Cava continued. “May this pig enjoy a prosperous future away from worry.”
The gathering, either celebrating or rejecting the area's customary feast of eating roast pork during the holidays, was created to replicate the yearly bird sparing at the White House.
The animal, contributed by a Coral Gables firefighter, was named for the modern linguistic fad of young people yelling “six-seven” – inspired by a rap song lyric – often without clear purpose. The phrase became so widespread that a prominent word reference recently made “6-7” its top term for the year.
A New Life
The pardoned swine is now destined to live out its days at a farm sanctuary “distant from barbecues and spits”, according to the organizers' announcement.
“This swine clemency has become a cherished method to open the end-of-year celebrations,” said Eric Castellanos, in a notably cheerful message.
“It represents the spirit of Miami: happy, multicultural, and based in heritage that unite the community. Annually, we are delighted to mark heritage and mercy in a way only Miami can.”
Participants enjoyed a meat-free selection of croquettes and strong coffee as they celebrated the pig's pardon.
