The Porcine Pardon: Hog Named 6-7 Spared by Miami-Dade Mayor.
While perhaps not at the same level as pardoning Thanksgiving turkeys, but the Miami-Dade County mayor 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 center of Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood.
“The swine has done no wrong. She is worthy of this pardon. Her criminal record is spotless,” Levine Cava said in a speech with obvious nods to the sheer volume of executive clemencies issued since the commencement of a second term in office.
“Except perhaps for eating 6 or 7 apples per day,” Levine Cava continued. “Let this swine have a long and happy life away from worry.”
This ceremony, simultaneously observing and challenging the local cultural practice of consuming swine during the holidays, was established to replicate the annual turkey pardoning at the White House.
The swine, contributed by a local firefighter, was named for the popular vernacular phrase of young people yelling “six-seven” – originating from a musical verse – often for no discernable reason. The phrase became so ubiquitous that a leading lexicon site recently made “6-7” its 2025 word of the year.
A Future Secured
This particular pig is now destined to live out its days at a countryside refuge “distant from barbecues and spits”, according to the ceremony's official statement.
“This swine clemency has become one of our favorite ways to begin the end-of-year celebrations,” said Eric Castellanos, in a particularly upbeat message.
“It embodies the character of Miami: happy, diverse, and grounded in customs that bring people together. Each year, we are honored to observe culture and compassion in a way distinctively Miamian.”
Guests enjoyed a vegetarian menu of croquettes and cafecito as they toasted the pig's pardon.
