For years, Hyattsville resident Kenny Sway has serenaded street corners in Washington, D.C. But his performance outside the White House Wednesday drew a national audience.

As thousands gathered on 16th and I streets near Lafayette Square to protest police violence, the Hyattsville singer turned on a small speaker and sang the Bill Withers classic “Lean on Me.”

After two days of tense encounters with law enforcement, the performance hit a nerve. Protesters joined in, holding up cell phones like lighters as the sun set, and videos of the moment spread on social media.

He also sang Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” and Sam Cooke’s civil rights anthem “A Change Is Gonna Come.”